State Mass Housing Scheme for the Low-Income Group in Abuja

Abstract

In 2000, Federal Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (MFCT), Abuja launched a mass housing scheme (MHS) under the platform of a public-private partnership (PPP). This paper reports an evaluation of this reform in order to understand the scheme's impact on the cohort of low-income group (LIG) in Abuja, Nigeria. The study explores the multiple data sources available, including literature and policy material and empirical evidence collected through structured and semi-structured questionnaires. The findings of the study suggest that the scheme did not significantly improve the housing status of LIG. The research suggests that the cohorts' history of exclusion in housing delivery in the Abuja deepened further due to partly an inadequate mortgage infrastructure to support their participation. Moreover, with poor scheme implementation, it is clear that the scheme strengthened the polarised position of the Abuja with respect to housing which runs counter to the stated policy objective to provide all Nigerians with decent and affordable housing. The paper concludes by showing the wider implication of the contemporary approach of the housing strategy in Abuja and Nigeria in general.

Citation

Abdullah, B.C. and Aziz, W.N.A.W.A. (2013), "State Mass Housing Scheme for the Low-Income Group in Abuja", Open House International, Vol. 38 No. 2, pp. 96-104. https://doi.org/10.1108/OHI-02-2013-B0010