Effect of Migration on Housing Conditions in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Port Harcourt city is having serious housing problem. Migration amongst other factors is commonly held responsible for housing congestions in urban centres across the globe. This study takes a look at the incidence of migration into the city, whether it is responsible for the situation in Port Harcourt. The study adopted expos facto survey design. Data was obtained from government records, academic publications, unstructured interview and structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was served 80 estate developers and agents in the city, divided into four convenient zones to which was allocated 20 each, drawn through convenience sampling. Some results are presented in tables while others are presented in essay form and periodized into pre – 1980 and post - 1980. The numerical result is analyzed in simple percentages. The result shows that the housing preference for migrants before 1980 was predominantly the single tenement buildings which were abundantly available, while migrants from 1980 onwards predominantly preferred flats and other upscale property which is also available. The result further showed that while 46.25% of demand for houses is in the single room category, over 61.75% of houses available are in the flats and other upscale categories. Migration has no strong causal link with the housing situation in the city. Rather the disparity between the type of houses in demand and the type of houses provided is more directly responsible for the situation in the city.