AN APPRAISAL OF HOUSING CONDITION IN KANTOMA, SULEJA, NIGER STATE

AN APPRAISAL OF HOUSING CONDITION IN KANTOMA, SULEJA, NIGER STATE

ABSTRACT

The need for Housing in Kantoma as there is both qualitative and quantitative housing provision in the study area, people find it difficult to move to place of work and other activities and some go outside the neighbourhood to work, this motivated the work.  Primary data were obtained through administration of structured questionnaires to a random size of population in the area. Oral interviews and field observations were also carried out for holistic and detail assessment of the environment. Secondary data were obtained from desk review method; information on environmental issues resulting housing shortage. The study identifies some problems and recommends that a strong legislation with severe sanction be put in place and they should be a continuous public enlightenment.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

In recent times, there has been a growing concern on the deteriorating state of housing in most urban areas of the developing nations. Consequently, the need for a decent and adequate shelter has long been an issue requiring urgent global attention. Since shelter constitutes one of man’s basic needs, it does have a profound impact on the health, wellbeing, social attitudes and economic productivity of the individual. However, it has been pointed out that residential quality and the quality of life are two variables of the same equation. Thus, the quality of housing, being basically an important health element, affects the well-being of the people, their productivity, manner of living and the decencies of their lives.

Significantly, good quality housing provides the foundation for stable communities and social inclusion. Previous research has established that a positive correlation exists between the quality of life and the comfort, convenience and visual appeal of housing. Good quality housing is therefore essential to planning. It does not only ensure the safety and wellbeing of people, but promotes beauty, convenience and aesthetics in the overall built-up environment.

Existing realities have however indicated an apparent variation in housing characteristics across different regions. The consequences of adaptation and restructuring have resulted into differences in housing quality in different communities. This problem of differential housing quality is compounded by the very rapid urban growth. However, studies have shown that the provision of appropriate housing, particularly for the urban poor constitutes a major challenge to development in most African countries and developing nations’ at large; and. Despite increasing emphasis on the need to improve housing, particularly within the urban areas of the less developed countries (LDCs), a high proportion of the urban population are deprived of access to good quality housing. Going by a UN-Habitat estimate, more than one billion of the world’s city residents live in low quality housing, mostly in the sprawling slums and squatter settlements in developing countries. The reality is that this urban housing scenario has adverse implications on the general wellbeing of the people and portends severe danger to the socioeconomic and physical development of the nations at large.

In Suleja, like in other towns and cities in the country, the provision of housing has been a major concern for some time. Access to decent and good quality housing has posed serious challenge to sustainable growth and development. While there has been an increasing demand for additional housing stock in the urban areas, the condition and overall quality of the existing stock falls short of the expected standard. Consequently, the urban house forms accommodated extended families living with many inconveniences while spatial congestion and infrastructure overloads cause problem in living comfort.

Considering the gravity of the housing problems and its effects on the wellbeing of the people and the nation at large, there is the need for housing improvements in our cities, and this is predicated on the appreciation of the essence of the house within the context of human habitation. There is no doubt, that housing remains a basic human need. Its quality, cost, and availability are crucial to individual’s quality of life. Also, the location, planning, layout and design make an important contribution to community spirit and identity, and are significant components of the social dimension of sustainable development.

1.2       STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

There is high prevalence of housing quantitative deficiency and inadequacy in supply in the study area as a result of absence of affordable land for housing development, cost of building material, inadequate provision of infrastructure and service and non-implementation of National housing policy.

1.3       AIM

The aim of this dissertation is to assess housing condition in Kantoma, Suleja Town with a view to evolving physical planning proposals improvement.

1.4       OBJECTIVES

i.       To examine the concept and indicators for evaluating housing condition.

ii.      To examine the physical condition of Kantoma.

iii.     To examine the socio-economic characteristic of the residence of Kantoma.

iv.     To evaluate the housing condition of the town.

v.      To evolve physical planning solution to the identified problems.

1.5       SCOPE

The study area covers the entireKantoma, Suleja Town located in Suleja local government area of Niger State.

1.6       LIMITATION

The following are the limitation encountered in the course of the research.

1. There was shortage of fund to carry out the project.
2. During the data collection, some respondent were reluctant to fill the question.

1.7       JUSTIFICATION

The result of this study will provide a guide for the appropriate authorities to decide on a new strategy for housing development.

1.8       PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The climate of Suleja is associated with two distinct seasons, wet and dry season. The rainy season starts from March to October and sometimes delays to around April to October. The rainy season occur for about seven (7) months. The dry season is about five (5) months November to March. During the period, the temperature and humidity follow closely the pattern of two dominant tropical air masses leading to the emergence of distinct regimes of;

(i)         Hot and humid period April- July

(ii)        Cool and humid period July – October

(iii)       Cool and dry period November – February

(iv)       Hot and dry period February – March

1.8.1    TEMPERATURE

Temperature within this area is average of about . The possibilities of the temperature drooping to the barest minimum degree centigrade are positive because it is embedded within a mountain.

1.8.2    LAND USE OF THE AREA

The land use of the area is predominantly residential/commercial development coming up.

1.8.3    VEGETATION

 Generally, the vegetation of Niger State is characterized by savannah which is also typically stratified community with a discontinuous canopy, shrubs and grass layers. The free stratum is less dense than that of the savannah woodland but more substantial than that of the shrub savannah.

1.8.4    SOIL AND GEOLOGY

The geographical area is sand and rocky. These rocky are igneous rock the soil part of the region is good. It consists of humus soil that is responsible for the good vegetation within the region.

1.8.5    WIND

The two pronounced air masses experienced in Suleja are the north-east trade winds (tropical continental winds) from the Sahara desert in winter (September-April) which is moist south west monsoon winds which blows from the Atlantic ocean and brings rain with it.

1.8.6    HUMIDITY

Reference to Nasarawa, relative humidity is high compare to what is experienced in most northern States this is because of effects of altitude.

1.8.7    HYDROLOGY

Suleja is characterized by a network of streams and rivers. Many of the streams are small and seasonal. The major ones like river Uke and Ado are the ones that flow through the season, but in some extreme  years they dry up at the peak of dry season.

1.8.8    TOPOGRAPHY

Suleja has a gentle slope that is undulating dissected by a network of streams characterized by a lot of hills and granite in other parts of the area. ‘The area is generally within 300 – 500m above sea level.