Spatial analysis of housing quality in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the factors responsible for the spatial variation in housing quality across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria using 33 housing characteristics. The data used are the 2006 Housing Characteristics and Amenities tables which were sourced from Nigeria’s National Population Commission (National Population Commission, 2006). Principal Component Analysis extracted three components. Component 1 accounting for 38% has electricity, water closet toilet, hygienic sources of water and high quality roofing, walling and flooring materials highly loaded on it. Component 2 (31%) comprised inferior walling, roofing and flooring materials, pit toilet, traditional and semi-detached house types, while component 3 (7%) had mainly zinc wall and public toilet highly loaded on it. Using these factor loadings as variables in discriminant analysis, three distinct regions of differing housing quality emerged corresponding to the western, eastern and northern geographical regions of the country with 97.3% of the states correctly classified and with the western (high) and northern (low) states at the opposite ends of the quality scale. It is recommended that non-conforming buildings, particularly, residential, and insanitary environment should be put in check through very strict and proactive enforcement of development control edicts and sanitary laws.