URBAN DWELLINGS AND INADEQUATE IN-HOUSE INFRASTRUCTURAL CHALLENGES IN ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA.

Built environment in many developing countries including Nigeria is fast degenerating. The thrust of this paper is to examine the nature of urban dwellings and condition of existing inhouse infrastructures in Ado-Ekiti, being a medium-sized city in South-western Nigeria. The study adopts Survey Research Design (SRD) through structured questionnaire administered to acquire its data from six neighbourhoods selected within the city using stratified sampling technique. It identifies problem of housing as everyday issue that needs urgent and decisive response from both individuals and government at different levels. The poor state of essential facilities, poverty level and adverse economic situation are observed as breeding agents that encourage environmental degradation in the study area. In view of this, the study advocates for urgent formulation of active environmental policies and enforcement strategy to mitigate the effects. It also suggests enlightenment campaign on benefits of healthy environment and extension of minimum wage increase to all and sundry with a view to reducing problem of poverty in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]