HOUSING POLICIES AND MARKET FAILURES IN ONDO STATE NIGERIA

• Main Authors: Afolabi Francis FATUSIN, Afolabi ARIBIGBOLA
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editura Universitatii din Oradea 2014-06-01
• Series: Analele Universităţii din Oradea: Seria Geografie
• Subjects: Urban housing markets; housing policy; housing market dynamics; housing production
• Online Access: http://geografie-uoradea.ro/Reviste/Anale/Art/2014-1/AUOG_650_Afolabi.pdf
• ISSN: 1221-1273; 2065-3409

One major factor that account for housing market crises in developing countries is the seeming disconnect between housing policies and housing markets in these countries. This paper examines the links between housing policy and urban housing market dynamics in context of developing world drawing from the housing market situation in selected urban centres in Ondo state of Nigeria. The data utilized were derived from the study of housing situations in the selected urban centres. Thus 180 questionnaires were administered on selected household heads and key officials of major agencies and organizations including government departments involved in housing provision and development in the state. The data collected were analyzed using simple descriptive analysis where appropriate. The study revealed that housing policies introduced over the years have had little impact on housing production and by implication urban housing market in the study cities. The study also revealed a disconnect between these policies and housing provision and trends in terms of quality, quantity, affordability and accessibility to housing. The paper argued that these were so because institutions connected to efficient functioning of these policies were inefficient, ineffective and sometime over ambitious and so more often than not, set goals were not met. The study concluded by suggesting more commitment on the part of Federal and Ondo state governments to ensure these policies dovetail to housing consumers.