STRATEGIC VARIABLES FOR IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE HOUSING UPGRADES IN THE COMING ERAHousing ranks very high in Maslow's hierarchy of needs pyramid. Various housing policies in Nigeria have failed to make decent accommodation accessible and affordable to th

Abstract

Housing ranks very high in Maslow's hierarchy of needs pyramid. Various housing policies in Nigeria have failed to make decent accommodation accessible and affordable to the urban dwellers. While the Nigerian teeming urban population continues to groan under the challenges of inadequate shelter, statistics indicate no evidence of improvement in the housing conditions in terms of affordability, standards, and availability of services. The paper uses literature review to establish the housing status quo in Nigeria, and leverages on the community study series of the Department of Architecture, Imo State University Owerri to identify variables that impact on residential upgrading to uplift housing development and delivery in the next millennium. The paper makes recommendations on the implementation of the variables, and concludes that existing housing stock in the study area would be rejuvenated to the benefit of humankind in the coming millennium if the recommendations are adopted and implemented.