An Analysis of Factors Influencing Households Residential Location Preferences in Abuja, Nigeria

Abstract

Households made some basic decision and sacrifice in location choice, which reflect in the reason for residing in their resident. This study examines how some factors are relatively considered in residential choice by different households which reflect in their decision to settle in different location of Abuja. The study was conducted by making use of four different clustered dictricts within the two study areas Lugbe, Wuse, Kubwa and Garki (high dense residential area of Abuja), using 480 structured questionnaires which highlight those factors that have been grouped for the household to choose, each zone is 120 questionnaires. These were ranked using linkert scale and analyses using spearman rank order correlation analysis method. A total of 478 questionnaires were returned, only in Lugbe was 118 returned. The study revealed that those reasons that are peculiar to different households in different neighbourhoods which form the reasons why they reside in such location. The results shows that socioeconomic factors such as income of households has high influence on the decision of households in all the districts, while proximity to working palce also has high influence on all the districts. But family influence, also proximity to information technology were just moderately scored in all the districts. When comparing the calculated value (Rho) with the critical value 0.382, it reveals there is no significant relationship in the factors influencing household preference between Lugbe and Wuse (0.024); Lugbe and Garki (0.284); Wuse and Kubwa (0.123); Kubwa and Garki (0.07). Also, there is significant relationship in the factors influencing households’ preference between Lugbe and Kubwa (0.628); Wuse and Garki (0.640), even though a positive relationship exist between all the districts. The study conclude that socioeconomic factors is crucial in every location decision of households as it relate it with other factors. It is will be useful for urban planner, policy makers and real estate investors on the tenants’ desire and reasons for those locations, which should enhance the pattern of development.