Abstract
The rapid growth of peri-urban settlements in sub-Saharan Africa reflects increasing demand for affordable housing and accessibility to urban labour markets, producing a hybrid landscape of formal estates and informal developments. This study situates the Lagos-Ibadan corridor within these wider dynamics by comparing its distinctive housing and infrastructural challenges with those of other African megacity fringes. The research assessed the quality of residential elements in peri-urban settlements along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, combining primary and secondary data. From a sampling frame of 77,962 residential buildings in Mowe, Ibafo, and Isheri, a 0.75% sampling ratio yielded 585 sampled households. Structured questionnaires captured socio-economic characteristics, housing types, drivers of migration, and the condition of housing elements. Data were analysed descriptively and through ANOVA at α = 0.05. Results showed a mean monthly income of ₦169,358 ± ₦103,082, with significant income variation (F = 98.080, p < 0.05). Housing stock was dominated by flat apartments (45%). The Resident Mobility Index indicated that proximity to workplaces (4.30) and low rents (3.61) were the main motivations for relocation, while qualitative insights revealed affordability pressures and adaptive coping strategies. The Housing Condition Index averaged 3.57, with significant quality differences across settlements (F = 20.091, p < 0.05), highlighting spatial inequalities shaped by infrastructure deficits and tenure arrangements. These findings emphasise the critical need for coordinated regional planning, targeted infrastructure investment, participatory governance, and the formalisation of informal housing to foster sustainable and equitable peri-urban development.
Keywords: Housing Quality, Infrastructure Planning, Lagos-Ibadan Corridor, Migration Drivers, Peri-Urban Housing.