Assessing the Role of Private Sector Participation in Housing Delivery in Nigeria: Case Study of Landbridge Nigeria Limited, Lagos.

Abstract

Housing has been universally accepted as the second most important essential human need after food . Housing is an essential tonic for the overall development of the economic life of any nation. T he problem of housing in Nigeria is enormous and complex exhibiting apparent and marked regional differences. In most of our urban centers, the problem is not only restricted to quality But also to quality of available housing units, and the environment. The result is manifested in the gross overcrowding in homed and increase pressure on infrastructure facilities and rapidly deteriorating environment. In view of this and in order to alleviate the problem in the country about housing provision. Government lay-out , various programmes or schemes so as to involve and mobilize private sector in provision of housing. The aim of this paper is to assess the role of Landbridge Nigeria limited in housing provision in Lagos State. The company has contributed immensely in the provision of housing for people. They have been able to provide houses at Golden Park Estate,Songotedo, in Ajah. They have also provided buildable plot to people through sand filling of Lekki-Ekpe express way., Victoria Island. They have also provided serviceable land for people. They have been able to provide about 6.37 Hectares of land for building. The building ranges from 1 bedroom apartment to 4 bedroom semi-detached buildings. The total cost invested in the Estate is in the range if N1.5 billion. The cost of building ranges from N27 million for terrace houses to N47 million for duplex buildings. They have done this in collaboration with Union Bank Group. The company has also contribute to housing stock in the country but the problem associated with private sector is that they are producing houses that are not for generality of Nigerians. The findings is that it is not the private sector as presently constituted and operated that would deliver the types of houses Nigerians need at the cost/price they could afford.