The urban poor and housing in Nigeria 1999-2007: A case study of the urban poor and housing programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

Abstract

Urbanization and its consequences are worldwide phenomenon and the increasing size and scale of urban settlement is characteristic of contemporary era. Rapid population growth has been accompanied by rapid urbanization vis­-a-vis rapid slum growth as well as rapid urban poverty. Consequently, the majority of the populations in some African cities live in abject poverty, illiteracy and in poor housing conditions.

 The United Nations Millennium Development Goal Report, (2007), revealed that approximately half the World's population now lives in cities and towns. In 2005, one out of three urban dwellers (approximately 1 billion people) are living in slum conditions. However, urbanization is not synonymous with human progress because the report further stressed that urban slum growth is out pacing urban growth by a wide margin.

Key words: Housing, Urbanization, Rivers State, Nigeria