EXPLORING FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTES TO RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT LIVEABILITY IN MINNA, NIGER STATE

Abstract

Creating a liveable residential environment has been given prominence globally, and of particular concern is the residents’ and neighbourhood satisfaction relationship. The increasing reports of slum situation in many urban areas spur the greater concern about liveability of mass housing projects around the globe. This paper explored the factors that contribute to the residential environment liveability through grounded theory approach. Extant literature provides factors such as dwelling unit features, neighbourhood facilities, economic vitality and safety. Based on this, a questionnaire survey was developed to obtain views from the residents’ of housing estates in Minna, Niger State of Nigeria. Residents’ views collected consisted of seventeen indicators of liveability of their residential environment. Analyses of data for this study include regression analysis, ANOVA and relative importance index (RII). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) result showed that all the four factors with F (4, 361) = 92.442, p<0.05 significantly predict the dependent variable liveability. The regression analysis results revealed neighbourhood facilities (34.8%) as the most significant predictor of the liveability of residential environment. The results appear to be relevant globally; however, this study recommends an upgrading of neighbourhood facilities and other key factors of liveability in the study area by the relevant authorities.