The "Omo-Nile" Syndrome in Housing Development in Informal Settlements of Lagos, Nigeria
Abstract
Description
Lagos is currently one of the fastest urbanising cities of the world. However, like many cities in developing countries, it does not seem to possess the capacity to accommodate such phenomenal growth. Such incapacity has manifested in the proliferation of informal settlements on the outskirts of the city. In these informal settlements, several urban poor households and a growing number of medium income households seek access to housing. Housing development in these settlements is constrained by several challenges, one of which is attributable to the interference of the "omo-niles" - the descendants of land-owning families - in the housing delivery process. Using both qualitative and quantitative data, this paper contributes to literature on real estate development in developing countries by examining and documenting the activities of these market actors as well as the manner in which their activities stifle housing development in the study area. The paper suggests ways of curbing the excesses of the "omo-niles".
Keywords
TH Building construction