Listokin et al. (2007) have defined housing as a permanent structure for human habitation. It is also referred to as the house and defined as a home, building or structure that is a dwelling or place for habitation by human beings. The term “house” includes many kinds of dwellings, ranging from rudimentary huts of nomadic tribes to free standing individual structures (Wikipedia, 2011).
Williams (2007) refers to it as a dwelling place, constructed as a home for one or more persons. The Special Issue on Contemporary Issues in Social Science © Centre for Promoting Ideas, USA www.ijhssnet.com 122
It is any type of permanent shelter for man, which gives him an identity (Omoniyi and Jiboye, 2009). Godwin (1998) defined it as “the space that we can call our own, that gives us privacy and shelters us from the weather and intrusions of unwanted people”. Housing in all its ramifications is more than mere shelter. It embraces all the social services and utility that goes to make a community or neighbourhood a live-able environment. (FGN, 1991; Omoniyi and Jiboye, 2009). Housing has become a critical component in the social, economic and health fabric of every nation. Its history is inseparable from the social, economic, cultural and political development of man (Listokin et al., 2007). As a unit of environment, it has a profound influence on the health, efficiency, social behavior, satisfaction, productivity and general welfare of the individual and community. It reflects the cultural social and economic values of a society as it appears the best physical and historical evidence of civilization in a country and a reliable measure or indicator of economic development (Jiboye, 2009)
NECCESSITY OF HOUSING
Housing has been universally accepted as the second most important essential human need. The right to adequate housing is considered a core human right. Housing rights were first universally codified on the Universal Declaration of
References: Agbola, T. (1998), The Housing of Nigerians: A Review of Policy Development and Implementation, Research Report, 14, Development Policy Centre, Ibadan Agbola, T. and Olatubara, C.O. (2003), “Private sector driven housing delivery (in Nigeria): Issues, constraints, challenges and prospects”, a lead paper presented at the 2nd Annual National Workshop on Private sector Driven Housing Delivery in Nigeria, University of Lagos, Lagos, 30th – 3rd July. Akinlusi, A. (2007): Mortgage Facilities; A Panacea for Mass Housing Development. A paper presented at Nigerian Institute of Building conference, Lagos, November, 13, Pp9-16. Aluko, B.T. (2002), “Urban housing for low – income earners in cities of Lagos state: The Land Question”, Proceedings of a National Conference on The City in Nigeria, Faculty of Environmental Designs and Management, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, pp288 – 294