NEIGHBOURHOOD ATTRIBUTES AND END-USERS’ PERCEPTION WITHIN RESIDENTIAL DENSITY OF LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Neighbourhood mirrors the development, characters, planning and allocation of an environment, the type and quality of people’s life living within it, their taste, economic entity, their social interaction, convenience and comfort. The aim of this study is to examine the perception of the users about the status of their neighbourhood with a view to improving neighbourhood development The research is an empirical analysis of tenants perception of the three identified residential neighbourhood of Ikeja: high; Ikorodu; medium; and Epe: low densities within Lagos metropolis. Data for the study were collected from administration of questionnaire designed with attitudinal 5 point liker scaling of strongly agree to strongly disagree measuring users perception of attributes that contributes to each of the neighbourhood status.. The structured questionnaire were giving to specific residential users living within each of the neighbourhood. The data were analyzed using weighted mean scores and Cronbach’s Alpha Co-efficient for Internal Consistency to test for the reliability of estimates for examining these users’ perception with the aid of Computer Aided Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 16. The result of the analysis revealed that in high density zone; accessibility to place of worship, presence of market, good road network, good management of flood control, availability of medical facilities, presence of shops, availability of children’s schools, security, presence of police station and the availability of portable water were the most attributes  perceived by the users to have enhance the density’s status. Whereas in medium density zone the perceived attributes include, presence of good road network, market, police station, medical facilities, accessibility to place of worship, good management of waste disposal system, presence of shopping centre(s), portable water, security from crime related activities, peaceful and quiet neighbourhood and availability of children’s schools; while  good management of waste disposal system, accessibility to place of worship, presence of good road network, neighbourhood secured from crime related activities, presence of shopping centre(s), medical facility, availability of portable water and police station, and accessibility to market, regularity of electricity supply and presence of recreation centre were users’  perceived attributes of the low density residential zone. In addition, proximity and accessibility take important positions in the perception of residents as reflected in their responses to questions of accessibility and closeness. The study recommended that the perception and general views of end-users should be incorporated in the operational housing and neighbourhood development policies from the conception to the development of housing, and urban renewal programs to achieve  demand-supply driven environment as well as enhancing a balanced value achievements by all stakeholders.