ASSESSMENT OF ACCESSIBILITY TO HOUSING IN BIDA TOWN, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Rapid growth in urbanization is a characteristic of the developing countries and has particularly been so since the 1950. This urbanization resulted in shortage in housing. Inadequacy in housing resulting in rapid population growth and migration of rural workers to urban exerts pressure on housing demand. This study examines the extent of the shortage in housing in Bida town. Bida town has been stratified in to 9 areas. Within each of the stratum, systematic sampling method of every fifth dwelling unit has been chosen. The first nine of the dwelling unit was chosen randomly upon which subsequently every fifth dwelling unit had chosen. The result of the data analysis revealed that most of the town have average of three persons living per room ratio. The ratio is grossly greater than the World Health Organization average standard of one and half persons per room. These have a spillover effects from evidence of population pressure on few housing supply. It is recommended that public participation, government instituted site and social service schemes from banks assistance is needed to intensify efforts in housing supply to meet the increasing demands of the populace.