Urban informality in Nigeria: a midsized city perspective

Midsized cities are important links between rural and urban spaces, providing accessibility to both local and metropolitan resources. They face unique challenges, and present opportunities for smart growth and development. However, the context of housing information in these cities has been widely under-studied, especially in Nigeria, where informality has taken over the urban periphery. This study seeks to develop an empirical understanding of informal housing formation in midsized cities. The empirical data analysis extracted primary data from Uyo, Awka, and Bauchi, which solidified it into an extensive dataset representing the four regions in Nigeria. Emergent informal housing formations resulting from the quest for urban life, low income, long waiting times for urban job opportunities, and free education for schoolchildren influenced by economic hardship were identified. Simultaneously, the prevalence of informal squatting settlements has been identified and largely attributed to urban migrants. The squatting system provides cheap housing and accommodates more migrants. However, its dependence on vulnerable urban migrants raises questions about human rights negligence. This study contributes to the literature on informal settlements in midsized cities in Africa and globally by providing a unique perspective in the context of housing information on these settlements.