Assessment of Housing Policy Implementation in Owerri, Imo State

Housing policy implementation in Nigerian state capitals has been persistently challenged by funding constraints, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and misalignment between policy goals and the realities of urban housing markets. This study assesses the implementation of housing policies in Owerri, Imo State, examining the extent to which state housing programs have achieved their stated objectives of expanding affordable housing supply and improving residential conditions. A descriptive survey design was adopted, collecting data from 200 Owerri residents across different income groups on their access to state housing schemes, affordability of available units, and housing conditions. Interviews were conducted with Imo State Housing Corporation officials, real estate developers, and housing advocacy representatives. Policy documents and housing project completion records from 2018 to 2023 were reviewed and analyzed. Spatial mapping of state housing estate locations was performed to assess their proximity to workplaces, schools, and commercial areas. Findings are expected to reveal a large housing deficit among low and middle-income residents, poor targeting of housing interventions toward the most needy groups, and delayed or incomplete delivery of several publicized housing schemes. The study also documents governance challenges within the Imo State Housing Corporation. Recommendations focus on revising housing policy targets to reflect actual need, developing transparent beneficiary selection systems, encouraging private sector partnership in affordable housing delivery, and improving the spatial integration of new housing estates with existing urban infrastructure. Keywords: Housing policy, Implementation, Owerri, Affordable housing, Urban governance.