Tenure Structure in Informal Settlements: Implications for Housing Policy Formulation in Nigeria
Literature suggests that housing tenure structure can be seen as a good indication of a country's economic development as well as the level of efficiency of its mortgage and housing finance systems. Several literature have discussed tenure in terms of either homeownership or rental. This paper intends to contribute to the literature on housing tenure in the informal settlements of developing countries by presenting empirical evidence from a research carried out in a representative informal settlement located in Lagos, Nigeria. Both quantitative and qualitative data have been collected through a survey of the settlement, using household heads as respondents. In addition to owner occupation and renting, The paper identified other significant tenure types which include "family housing" and rent free housing. In addition, the implications of this more robust mix of tenure types for housing policy formulation in a developing country like Nigeria are discussed. Significant is the need for policy to be more embracing in order to cater for the housing needs of a wider spectrum of the people, especially the poor.