A Review of Mass Housing in Abuja, Nigeria: Problems and Possible Solutions Towards Sustainable Housing

ABSTRACT: Housing is one of the most basic and oldest developments of mankind. Because of its necessity and importance, it has evolved tremendously over time. Due to rural – urban migration, mass housing has become an inevitable part in the development of cities. Most significant of the development of the idea of mass housing are: (1) The industrial Revolution, which brought about a massive movement of people from rural to urban areas in search of jobs to earn a wage or salary, and (2) The World War, after which a large number of houses were to be built quickly and economically to shelter immigrants in search of shelter, and also to make up for the destroyed or damaged housing developments in the affected areas. Mass housing during these periods became an important part of urban development. These mass housing developments which came as a solution to shelter an ever growing population unfortunately came along with physical, socio – cultural and economic problems. Abuja, being a city undergoing massive development, due to the fact that it is the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria, also in turn faces massive urbanization due to the movement of people to the city in search of jobs. Mass Housing developments have also been provided as a solution to shelter the growing urban population and also to provide a re – settlement scheme for the original settlers of the area. The main aim of this study is to find out why the mass housing schemes in Abuja, Nigeria are not successful by the analysis of the situation of mass housing environments in Abuja, which were developed by the federal government, and to see if they qualify as sustainable developments or not and if not, find out how sustainability can help in solving the problems created by these mass housing developments and suggest some solutions according to the design considerations for sustainable mass housing developments. In trying to do this, an analysis of the situation of mass housing is done through literature review of existing data, and also, some selected case studies, which include the Gwarimpa Estate, Lugbe Estate and The Re – Settlement scheme, have been analyzed in terms of Socio – Cultural, Physical and Economic development, through site survey After the analysis of the case studies through the design considerations for sustainable mass housing developments, the advantages and disadvantages of the different mass housing schemes have been identified in a comparative way, problems identified, at the end, possible solutions given according to the principles of sustainable development. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………