Tussle between Landlords and Tenants in West African Cities; Lokoja, North Central Nigeria Experience

This paper introduces the reader to a special issue that focused on tussle in landlord-tenant relationship in West African cities, including how to survive as a landlord and tenant in the current housing crisis that required an effective conflict management that necessitated proper identification and classification of causes of disputes particularly in places like Kumasi, Ouagadougou, Dakar, Bamako, Cotonou, Porto-novo, Niamey, Lome, Kasoa, Lagos, Ibadan, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Bissau, Maradi, Daloa, Benin City, Kano and Lokoja. This study investigates and classified disputes relating to landlord-tenant relationship using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The study elicited data from tenants in Lokoja, Nigeria on issues generating disputes between them and their landlords. Stratified random sampling was used in selecting respondent tenants from five neighbourhoods and a total of 300 questionnaires were administered on them out of which 235(78.3%) were retrieved and found good for analysis. Findings indicate that the desire to have value for rent paid on the part of tenants, and guide against possible misuse of demised premises from landlords’ were viewed as the major dispute generators. It was recommended among others that, there must be necessity of tenancy agreement guiding all leases in order to reduce or eliminate the tussle of physical assault, incessant clashes, and altercations between landlord and tenants. Keywords: Conflict/Tussle, Factor Analysis, Landlords, Lokoja, Tenants DOI : 10.7176/RHSS/14-7-03 Publication date : September 30th 2024