Peri-urbanization and Housing Challenges in Sub-Saharan Emergent Cities: Case of the Bamenda 3 Local Council Area in Cameroon

Peri-urbanization in sub-Saharan emergent cities has triggered housing challenges accrued. Access to affordable housing has become a herculean task leading to urban anarchy. This article posits that the development a of substandard housing infrastructures, high cost of decent housing, over crowdedness as well as the construction of houses in risk pruned zones are some of the challenges observed. Some 277 questionnaires were administered to households of the Bamenda 3 local council area to have first-hand data on the housing challenges and its consequences. A multispectral land satellite imagery on the land use/ land cover situation for three different periods was used to determine the rate of spatial expansion in the peri-urbanization process of the area. Field observations and interview sessions were organized to have information on the mundus operandi aground. ArcGIS 10.0 and MapInfo software were used in the production of maps in this work. An in-depth secondary data collection was done to gather information on the rate of urbanization and its challenges to Bamenda 3. Results from findings propound that rapid population growth (32.8%) political factor (23.4%) economic activities18.4%), urban expansion (14.4%) and relief factor10.3) were identified as determinants of peri-urbanization in the area. This has triggered a change in the land use/landcover situation of Bamenda 3 over time from (13.16%) in 2000 to (29.22%) in 2020 of the built-up space. The change in built-up space has been accompanied by housing challenges leading to water scarcity, limited power supply, poor roads as well as unhealthy environment. The inhabitants of Bamenda 3 are faced with high cost of living, drop in household consumption, development of substandard housing and overcrowding. The paper adheres to the fact that the State should put more effort into financing affordable housing either through subventions or loan purchases to reduce substandard constructions. Furthermore, the legal and judicial system should ensure contract enforcement and promote transparency with the hope of curbing housing challenges in Bamenda 3 and beyond.