National housing policy and the level of government implementation for sustainable housing provision in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State

One of the major problem facing cities in most developing countries of the world is housing shortage occasioned by increasing urban growth. Policies and legislations are tools government employed through a process of policy implementation to make provision for its availability. This study examined the National Housing Policy and the Level of Government Implementation for Sustainable Housing Provision in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State. The study adopted the Mixed Method Research Approach and employed the triangulation research design. Purposive sampling technique was used to select sampled respondents and the communities under investigation. One hundred (100) respondents was arrived at with the aid of Taro Yamane formula. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected concurrently and analyzed using univariate summary statistic and content analysis revalidation technique. The study revealed that, there exist extant national housing policy which is known to the general public, and the level of government implementation of this policy is low which has resulted to a greater level of housing shortage found in the study area. Based on this findings, the study thus recommended that the extant national housing policy be reviewed by the legislative arms of government to meet the current trend of housing demands in the country; That government should take proactive steps to fasten the implementation of this policy so as to tackle the issues of housing shortage and the problems associated thereof in the study area; there should be public participation and active involvement in the review process; and private-partner participation in implementation so as to meet the overriding demand of housing accommodation to the public.