Paper short abstract:

The study evaluates the Lagos New Town housing policy and programming between 1963 and 2023. It will utilise a triangulation of policy reviews, field surveys, and physical observations to generate outcomes that will inform social justice and sustainable development policy reforms.

Paper long abstract:

Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city is among the fastest-growing in the world. There is a significant housing gap which manifests in quantity, quality, distribution, and access across its five administrative districts. Beginning from the year 1963, the Lagos State Government utilized new towns to improve and redistribute housing and social infrastructures among its citizens. Over five decades later, there is no documented evaluation of the effects of this policy intervention in reducing the housing deficit and/or in enhancing housing quality in the state. Therefore this study is an evaluation of the Lagos New Town housing policy and programming between 1963 and 2023.

For the study, a triangulation of policy reviews, field surveys, and physical observations will be done. An evaluation of the implementation of the new town development policy over time will be done, after which a fully developed new town from each of the five districts of the state will be randomly selected and 50 questionnaires administered to long-term residents. Also, key Informant Interviews will be conducted with representatives of the homeowners association and the Lagos New Town Development Authority. Also to be assessed are the socioeconomic characteristics, allocation, and maintenance records of the Authority. Data obtained will be subjective to both qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study is expected to inform housing and urban development policy reforms, especially towards social justice and sustainable urban development.