African Journal of Geography and Regional Planning

ISSN 2736-1586

African Journal of Geography and Regional Planning ISSN: 3627-8945 Vol. 4 (2), pp. 318-325, February, 2017. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Quality of housing, urbanization, and environmental degeneration in Nigeria

Bamidele Akeem, Adeboye Abiodun and Adebayo Godwin

Department of Environmental Science, School of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 11 October, 2014

Abstract

This paper examines quality of housing in Nigeria cities and the impacts of urbanization on environmental degeneration of urban built environment. The paper identifies the problems that have aided the degeneration to: Inadequate basic infrastructural amenities, substandard housing, overcrowding, poor ventilation in homes and work places, and noncompliance with building bye-laws and regulations. In order to examine the above mentioned problems, the study included secondary data. The secondary data involved available census data, official documents and other relevant secondary data were obtained from existing literature, on books and journals. The paper finds that the poor housing quality has serious adverse effects on environment and the health of city residents. Strategies for improving the built environment for sustainable living are suggested. The paper concluded that it is imperative to check and prevent further decay for harmonious living and sustainable developments.

Key words: Urbanization, environmental, degeneration, substandard, housing, housing quality, overcrowding.