Urbanization and Housing Facility in Enugu Urban, Enugu State of Nigeria

Urbanization is not a recent phenomenon neither is it peculiar to any society. It is a global phenomenon, a trans-generational process that is inevitable and never ends. Urbanization brings with it possibilities of improved access to housing and also posed challenges to urban housing in many countries. The present study has been therefore motivated by the inadequacy in housing facility in relation to the ever-increasing urban population in Enugu Urban. The broad objective of the study was to examine the effect of urbanization on housing facility in Enugu Urban, Enugu State of Nigeria. The specific objectives are to ascertain the effect of urban spatial structure on housing quality in Enugu Urban; and determine the effects of population growth on housing affordability in Enugu Urban, Enugu State of Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study was 969,074, comprising 774 staff of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation and 968,300 residents of urban areas in Enugu State. The sample size of 400 was determined using Taro Yamane formula. The purposive sampling technique was used for the selection of the respondent. The data collected were presented and analyzed using mean score and standard deviation, while the hypotheses were tested with t-test statistical analysis at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that urban spatial structure has significant negative effect on housing quality in Enugu Urban (χ2 cal. of 30.74 > χ2 tab. of 9.49). It was also discovered that the population growth has significant negative effect on housing affordability in Enugu Urban, Enugu State of Nigeria ((χ2 cal. of 19.65 > χ2 tab. of 9.49). It was concluded that the extent of the housing shortage in Enugu urban areas is enormous. The inadequacies are far-reaching and the deficit is both quantitative and qualitative, but not insurmountable. Based on these findings and conclusion, the study recommended for urgent multi-faceted intervention to address the housing deficit both qualitatively and quantitatively by adopting a pro-poor housing development strategy through public-private partnership. The study also recommended that the development of further estates should henceforth emphasize on low-income housing to create more houses affordable by the low income earners in Enugu urban.