COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GOVERNMENT RESETTLEMENT HOUSING SCHEMES AND TRADITIONAL HOUSING SETTLEMENT PATTERN IN ABUJA: THE CASE OF GBAGYI PEOPLE.

Abstract

Resettlement of Gbagyi people in Federal Capital Territory, Abuja Nigeria was necessitated by the movement of the new capital from Lagos to Abuja. This culminated into a forced relocation of Gbagyi people who are the original inhabitants from their homes. The research examined the resettlement schemes that have been provided in Abuja. The research also examined why the houses provided by the government in the resettlement schemes were rejected by the people and how this can be forestalled in future resettlement cases in Nigeria. Four resettlement schemes were examined to determine the adequacy of such schemes in respect to socio-cultural and socio-economic characteristics of gbagyi people. The research concluded that the resettlement houses provided were dissimilar to the way of life of the affected people. The research recommended that the design of resettlement housing should recognize the fact that people are cultural being and the process of integrating users’ participation in the resettlement scheme should be encouraged so as to provide users with adequate satisfaction.