An Evaluation of the Roles of State Government in Housing Delivery of Residential Building

ABSTRACT.
Housing is one of the most important needs of individuals next to food and clothing. Housing
needs for low income earners has reached an alarming stage in Nigeria. On the supply side,
numerous government policies have earlier aimed at disabling the massive shortage through
numerous housing reform programmes. Despite these preceding efforts, housing remains an
illusion to an average Nigerian. This research assessed the role of government policy on housing
delivery in Nigeria. The objectives were to determine housing needs of the low income group in
Nigeria and to determine the impact of government policies on affordable housing provision to
the low income group. Survey method was used to collect data from 40 respondents through the
administration of questionnaires which was analyzed with statistical tools. The findings from the
study shows that insufficient fund is closely related to other finance related factors identified as
barriers to the accessibility of public housing by the low income group who are non-public
servants. Such factors as high interest rate, low per capital income, lack of security of income,
lack of collateral and high cost of public houses. The study suggest the creation of a viable
secondary mortgage market, improvement of land registration and allocation, compassionate
urban renewal programmes, cost saving house designs amongst others.