ABSTRACT
This research focused on examination of the role of the state government in the development of residential estates in Akwa Ibom state using Akwa Ibom Property and investment company limited (APICO). The objectives of the research were: to identify the types of residential estates developed by Akwa Ibom state government in the study area, to identify the level of involvement of Akwa Ibom state government in the development of residential estates in the study area, to ascertain the challenges militating against residential estates development by Akwa Ibom State Government and to examine the possible solutions to challenges militating against residential estates development by Akwa Ibom state government. To accomplish the research objectives, census was conducted on the ninety seven (97) respondents. The instrument of the study was self-developed questionnaire and the questionnaire forms were personally administered. Hypotheses were formulated to guide the study and data were analysed using chi-square statistical tool and simple percentages. Findings from the study revealed that Akwa Ibom state government has developed residential estates in the state. In addition the study examined that the roles of Akwa Ibom state government in residential estates development are, providing legal regulatory framework for the development of residential estates, regulating the residential estate market, providing adequate financing for the development of residential estates. The study also revealed that the challenges militating against residential estate development by Akwa Ibom state government include: deficient land resources use and planning failure and poor funding of residential estate development projects. Finally, the study revealed that the possible solutions to the challenges include: efficient utilization of land resources and effective planning and provision of adequate funding for residential estate projects. It was recommended that the Akwa Ibom state government should ensure the efficient utilization of land resources and effective planning of residential estate projects, the state government should provide adequate funds for residential estate projects.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Residential estates provide housing to the members of the society and this makes it very important as it contributes to the infrastructural and economic development. The increasing population growth rate, urbanization, and increasing need to provide man with a conducive environment for habitation in cities have affirmed the global concern for sustainable development with the attendant problem of ensuring developmental planning, coordination and control (Alabi, 2010; Ahmed and Dinye, 2011). According to Ujene and Atser (2016) the development plan of a city or town tries to advance scientific and coherent policies to meet the functional needs of the city and aspirations of its citizens. Planning of land use and construction activities require control on it by some regulations, which are General Development Control Regulations. These regulations affect many parameters of urban development like housing, population density, infrastructure requirement, environment and others. This impact directly depends upon the development control regulations for the city (Vaghani, Shah and Chauhan, 2010).
Ahmed and Dinye (2011) however, observed that sustainable development in developing countries has been hindered by deficient land resources use and planning failures coupled with overall inappropriate and weak enforcement of development controls. Okekeogbu (2011) similarly observed a gross manifestation of impropriety and inefficiency as evidenced in the spate of uncoordinated physical and infrastructural development in most Nigerian cities.
The Nigerian Urban and Regional Planning Degree No. 88 of 1992 describes development as the carrying out of any building, engineering, mining, or other operations in, on, over or under any land, or the making of any environmentally significant change in the use of any land or demolition of buildings including the felling of trees (Nduthu, 2010). Some developmental activities of the construction industry include construction of hospitals, schools, townships, offices, houses and other buildings; urban infrastructure (including water supply, sewerage, drainage); highways, roads, ports, railways, airports; power systems; irrigation and agriculture systems; telecommunications and so on(Khan, 2008). Building of residential estates is also part of development as it encourages economic growth and promotes societal development. People will naturally be attracted to areas with good residential estates and may be encouraged to also invest in it.
The government of every state has a critical role to play in the development of residential estates. The right to adequate housing as clearly affirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, is acknowledged in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), which enjoins the Nigerian State ‘that suitable and adequate shelter …are provided for all citizens.’ Hence, the government has a role in regulating this market since a well-functioning housing market requires a menu of both housing and housing finance products that increase the supply of housing to meet the demand for all income segments as well as a policy that focuses the government’s limited resources on the neediest population groups.