Urbanization, housing quality and environmental degeneration in Nigeria

This paper examines the housing quality in Nigeria cities and the impacts of urbanization on environmental degeneration of urban built environment. The paper identifies the problems that have aided the degeneration to: Inadequate basic infrastructural amenities, substandard housing, overcrowding, poor ventilation in homes and work places, and noncompliance with building bye-laws and regulations. In order to examine the above mentioned problems, the study included secondary data. The secondary data involved available census data, official documents and other relevant secondary data were obtained from existing literature, on books and journals. The paper finds that the poor housing quality has serious adverse effects on environment and the health of city residents. Strategies for improving the built environment for sustainable living are suggested. The paper concluded that it is imperative to check and prevent further decay for harmonious living and sustainable developments.   Key words: Urbanization, environmental, degeneration, substandard, housing, housing quality, overcrowding.