APPRAISAL OF HOUSING QUALITY AND URBAN SPRAWL IN MARABA, KARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Abstract
This study assessed the housing quality in Maraba with a view to evolving measures for improving housing situation in the town. Survey method was employed in the study. Samples of 377 households were taken to represent the population of Maraba and three instruments namely questionnaire, interview and observation were used concurrently in getting primary data. Simple and systematic random sampling were used based on a sample frame of 1;15. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics where bar charts, pie charts, histograms, multiple graphs and tables constituted the main instruments of the analyses. It was discovered in the research that housing facilities in most parts of the town were not adequately provided and this has caused rapid decay of existing housing and a plethora of socio-economic challenges among residents of the study area. It was also observed that the decay was in part due to lack of periodic maintenance of existing houses and high cost of living. These were found to have profound implications on rental values of properties, overcrowding and slum upsurge in the study area. It was recommended that Government should rise to the challenges of housing provision and infrastructure for the growing population in the study area. Some form of Public Private Partnership on housing delivery should be encouraged by government to promote access to decent housing.
Keywords
Appraisal, Housing Quality, Urban Sprawl, Maraba, Karu Local Government