Rural Housing Problems In Imo State

Introduction

1.1 Background Of Study

Housing is one of the three (3) most significant in the sustainability of human existence with considerable economic, social, culture and personal important area.

Housing is need by every individual living in both developed and undeveloped countries of the world.
Government at every level have made it a priority in its policy formulation to check rural urban draft
According, rural development in all its ramification can be used to reverse the trend. Housing is among the participated infrastructural provision in any rural planning policy; many rural area are assuming suburban status due to the basic arrangement that are being provide as well as housing.

For example, 75% of the population in imo state have their own housing accommodation, some of which are of modern building, block of flats, bungalow, self-contained storey building and of old fashioned building-mud houses with thatch roofs. (Imo state housing cooperation (2011).

Imo is a developing state with abundant human and material resources; hence, the quest for rapid development has given rise to act for blunder by successive government with respect to development plans, budget allocation and misplacement of priorities.

The production of housing has influenced largely policies, innovation and the ability to sustain the environment, therefore, good rural housing contribute very significantly in developing the environment.

Housing is one of the economic activities that operate strictly on the law demand and supply.

All these negative development are direct responses to the nation housing shortage and problem.

Rural housing is characterized by numerous problems which can broadly be classified as follows:

A. Socio-Economic Problem:

This leads to high rate of unemployment, high ratio of low wages earners, poverty, high cost of production and increase in cost of building materials etc.

B. Land Tenure System:

This has become a general problem which hinders any meaningful development. It was in a bid to solve this problem that the federal government ventured into the establishment of land use Act 1978, whereby simple land owners are resisted from any vital development, including housing estate that will boost stocks/economy. This is as a result of the change of land ownership, whereby the governments are the legal owners of the land, while the owners are the tenants, struggling to acquire the right of occupancy in order to use the land.

C. Political Problems:

Rural housing problems in Imo state is a much talk about phenomenon, worthy of an academic investigation, hence the case study of Ikeduru local government area, most of the houses are quite in deplorable condition, made up of rural shambles and other make-shift dwellings, which are recognizably unfit for human habitation.

The rural housing has become handicapped by poor environmental quality, inadequate planning and lack of qualified builders with knowledge of appropriate construction techniques.

Dwelling units are not maintained, there are no good access roads to houses, plastering needed for floors in most case are not made available.

The rural housing is virtually devoid of basic social amenities and infrastructural like convenient sources of pipe borne water, sewage and garbage disposal system, other facilities such as market, health centers, social and cultural area for education, recreational areas and community participation management are very important.
The most conspicuous hardship rural housing is facing is a new housing construction, their maintenance, upgrading and rehabilitation of the environment.

Apart from financial returns from agricultural sector a high interest rates, repayment period from commercial bank constitute an enormous problems to housing production.

This situation is even worsened by the rejection of rural houses as collateral or security and others discriminatory activities of the banks.

Therefore, the researcher will aim at examining the local techniques/technology employed in rural housing construction and maintenance or investigating the level of provisions of local materials in relative to high cost of foreign building materials.

1.2 Statement Of Problem

This research work intends to address the problems of rural housing in Ikeduru with regards to socio-economic problem, political problem and problems constituted by land tenure system.

1.3 Aim And Objectives Of The Study

The aim of this research work is to examine the problems of rural housing in Ikeduru.

Objectives:

To achieve the above stated aim, the following objectives will be pursed.

Examine the level of provision of building materials with respect to their cost

To examine the techniques employed in rural housing construction and maintenance

To examine the provision of infrastructure in the study area.

Examine the effect of the problem inadequate housing delivery

Examine the sanitary condition and availability of electric pipe – borne water, and roads that exist in the rural areas

1.4 Relevance Of The Study

The essence of this study is to unveil the problems encountered by the inhabitations of rural houses in rural area, particularly those in Ikeduru L.G.A with a view of drawing the attention of government on the negligence of its duties towards rural houses in rural area. If the finding of this research are given consideration by the appropriate authority, there will be lot of components concerning the problems of rural housing that are being faced today by rural inhabitants in the rural area of Imo state.

1.5 Research Hypothesis

Hypothesis is a set of ideas or thought that is concerned in the mind requiring proof, through experiment and confirmation.

The hypothesis chosen for this research is thus:

H1: Rural housing construction is mainly made up local materials.

H2 Techniques employed in construction are poor and in this case does not confirm to the modern in style which enhanced security and good health.

Rural housing is mainly shelter or residence only and lack healthy environmental and basic infrastructures.

1.6 Scope Of The Study

This research is restricted to selected communities in Ikeduru local government area of Imo state among which are;

Eziama

Owu Amakohia

Ngugu (Ngo)

Amatta

Amaimo

Umudim

Avuvu

Iho (the head quarter)

Ideme