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Measuring housing and environmental quality as indicator of quality of urban life: A case of traditional city of Benin, Nigeria

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Abstract

Using objectively derived criteria from Nigerian 1959 Town Planning Act, the National Council on Housing definition of standard housing and Oredo Local Authority Building and Adoptive Bye-Laws, this study measured the quality of housing in the three major areas of structural materials, internal unit facilities provided and environmental or neighbourhood amenities/facilities. The computations showed that deficiencies were greatest in the neighbourhood, internal facilities and structural materials in that order. Quality showed a lapse rate from the core to the periphery and from high to low income areas. The QOL measurement showed that to the respondents the quality of the city housing detracts from their quality of living. Policy and planning implications of the findings were discussed.

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Muoghalu, L.N. Measuring housing and environmental quality as indicator of quality of urban life: A case of traditional city of Benin, Nigeria. Soc Indic Res 25, 63–98 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00727652

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