Housing all over the world has remained an interdependent phenomenon that
affects every facet of mankind. Its importance is so pronounced that it imparts
on the social, physical and mental wellbeing of man irrespective of his socioeconomic
status, color or creed. It represents of the most basic human needs and
has no doubt impact on the health, welfare and productivity of the individual. In
spite of the importance of housing to mankind, there is however, a universal
shortage of needed dwelling units especially in developing countries including
Nigeria where population growth and urbanization are rapidly on the increase
and where the gap between housing supply and housing demand is so wide.
This paper critically appraises the contemporary housing and the role of
government in the provision of housing in the country. It places in context
public housing policies and programmes as they affect the development of
housing at the turn of the country. The paper proposes initiatives to address the
country’s monumental housing needs through the provision of enable
environment which will make the resources required for acquisition housing to
majority of the citizenry accessible.