HOUSING SATISFACTION IN SELF-HELP HOUSING: AN ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL SERVANTS IN BENIN METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines the level of satisfaction among civil servants engaged in self-help housing within Benin Metropolis, Nigeria. Self-help housing, a prevalent response to the housing deficit in Nigeria, is typically characterized by incremental construction, user-driven design, and informal implementation. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 199 respondents through structured questionnaires, assessing satisfaction across three key domains: house characteristics, site attributes, and neighbourhood conditions. Findings reveal a generally high level of satisfaction with elements under residents’ control; such as privacy (M=4.29), thermal comfort (M=4.01), and compound space (M=4.11). However, satisfaction significantly declined in areas related to external infrastructure, including electricity provision (M=2.86), road networks (M=2.83), and drainage systems (M=2.95). Aggregated satisfaction scores indicated moderate satisfaction with house features (M=52.28), high satisfaction with site features (M=12.08), and variable satisfaction with neighbourhood infrastructure (M=24.68). The study is anchored on Turner’s Housing-as-a-Process Theory and the Person-Environment Fit Model, both of which help explain the divergence between internal satisfaction and external dissatisfaction. The results underscore the strengths and limitations of Nigeria’s self-help housing model, emphasizing the need for integrated infrastructure planning, technical support, and participatory housing frameworks. The study concludes that while self-help housing meets immediate shelter needs and fosters autonomy, its long-term viability depends on systemic policy interventions and infrastructure integration.