Effect of Urbanization on Housing Demand in Nigeria: A Review

Abstract

Incessant migration of dwellers into the urban settlements due to urbanization factors such as seeking for greener pasture, poverty alleviation and improving their living status have resulted in increasing housing demand and shortfall of services and facilities in Nigeria. This study shows the extent at which urbanization affects the housing situation in Nigeria and suggested the way of addressing the situation to reduce the consequences of urbanization in Nigeria. Observations and secondary data were sourced from relevant literature for this study. The study revealed that the most common effects of urbanization in Nigeria are lack of access to land for housing development to mostly the financially deprived residents and increasing demand of housing units. The need to address the inequalities between the rural and urban communities and the development of national land use policy to assuage cost through land speculation among others were suggested.