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https://doi.org/10.56556/gssr.v2i1.430 

                                                                  

 

33 
Global Scientific Research 

Effect of Road Rehabilitation on Housing Renovation in Calabar South Local 
Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria 
 

Ezekiel James Bassey1, Salvation U. Eteng2*, Ndifreke M. Etim2 
 
1Department of Urban and Regional Planning, School of Environmental Studies, Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa Ibom 
State, Nigeria 
2Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria 
 
Corresponding author: Salvation U.Eteng: salvationeteng@gmail.com 
Received: 05 January, 2023, Accepted: 18 March, 2023, Published: 21 March, 2023 

 

 

 

Abstract 

Infrastructure provision has been identified as a potent tool for the improvement of neighborhoods globally. One such 

infrastructure is a good road network. Road rehabilitation, therefore, has the capability of promoting land use development 

and housing development/renovation. Despite the obvious effect that road rehabilitation has on predicting property 

development and renovation, there appears to be a paucity of studies as it relates to Calabar South Local Government Area 

where road several roads have been rehabilitated. It is against this backdrop that this study was conceived. The study, 

therefore, analysed the relationship that exists between road rehabilitation and housing renovation in Calabar South Local 

Government Area between 2002 and 2021. Six residential neighbourhoods were randomly sampled. Furthermore, a total 

of 399 copies of the questionnaire were distributed and 389 copies were retrieved and used for analysis. Descriptive 

statistics such as frequencies and simple percentages were used in carrying out the analysis. It was noted that road 

rehabilitation drastically triggered the renovation of properties in the study area. For instance, there was an increase in the 

extent to which housing units were fenced, painted among other renovation exercises in housing units before and after the 

rehabilitation of the roads.   

Keywords: Housing; Housing renovation; housing quality; housing environment; road rehabilitation 

 

Introduction 

Rehabilitation involves enhancing the quality of 

deteriorating neighbourhood through improving and 

maintaining existing infrastructure. The essence of 

rehabilitation is to prevent infrastructure/properties from 

deterioration, dilapidation and collapse. Rehabilitation of 

roads basically requires repairs and improvements 

through reconstruction and recoating of road surfaces 

(Sule, 2005), upgrading and construction of road surfaces 

that were previously in a state of disrepair (Hartoyo, 2013; 

Bassey, Eteng and Ewah, 2022). Holistically, roads play 

diverse roles in the society that makes it very importance. 

For instance, in rural areas, roads basically promote 

agricultural development and productivity (Bassey et al., 

2022; Bassey and Eteng, 2022) while in urban setting, 

roads influence the siting of land uses/developments, 

housing, markets etc.  

While roads are largely important in predicting 

developments, scholars (Ajom, Etim and Bassey, 2022; 

Ajom, Eteng and Etim, 2022; Eteng, 2016) have showed 

positive relationships between road rehabilitation and 

property development. Eteng (2016) showed that 

developers are always clamouring for land in accessible 

area for housing development. Ajom et al., (2002a) 

argued that road is the prime factor on which housing 

development depend. Their study highlighted that without 

accessibility, it is impossible to survive in the 

environment, embark on social activities among other. 

Against this backdrop, roads have been recognized as an 

integral part of the developmental process of regions 

(Aderamo and Magaji, 2010). Specifically, housing 

represent a basic need of man. It is more than mere shelter 

for man. In fact, housing serves as one of the indicators of 

a person’s standard of living and his place in the society. 

This justifies why low density areas are characterized by 

accessible areas.  

In Calabar South LGA, the urban renewal drive which 

started in 1999, brought about the development and 

rehabilitation of several roads. The road rehabilitation 

process further triggered development of various land 

uses include residential housing (Eteng, 2016). The level 

to which the roads have promoted housing renovation has 

not been studied in available literature. This suggest that 

there is a gap in knowledge that needs to be filled. Against 

this backdrop, the paper analysed the level to which road 



Global Sustainability Research 

34 
Global Scientific Research 

rehabilitation has impacted on housing renovation in 

Calabar South LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria.  

Literature Review 

 

Rehabilitation involves enhancing the quality of 

deteriorating neighbourhoods by improving and 

maintaining existing infrastructure. The essence of 

rehabilitation is to prevent infrastructure/properties from 

deterioration, dilapidation and collapse. Rehabilitation of 

roads requires repairs and improvements through 

reconstruction and recoating of road surfaces (Sule, 

2005), upgrading and construction of road surfaces that 

were previously in a state of disrepair (Hartoyo, 2013; 

Bassey, Eteng & Ewah, 2022). Holistically, roads play 

diverse roles in society which makes them very important. 

For instance, in rural areas, roads promote agricultural 

development and productivity (Bassey et al., 2022) while 

in an urban setting, roads influence the siting of land 

uses/developments, housing, markets etc.  

While roads are largely important in predicting 

developments, scholars (Ajom, Etim and Bassey, 2022; 

Ajom, Eteng & Etim, 2022; Eteng, 2016) have shown 

positive relationships between road rehabilitation and 

property development. Eteng (2016) showed that 

developers are always clamouring for land in an 

accessible area for housing development. Ajom et 

al., (2002a) argued that road is the prime factor on which 

housing development depends. Their study highlighted 

that without accessibility, it is impossible to survive in the 

environment, and embark on social activities among 

others. Against this backdrop, roads have been recognized 

as an integral part of the developmental process of regions 

(Aderamo and Magaji, 2010). Specifically, housing 

represents a basic need of man. It is more than mere 

shelter for man. Housing serves as one of the indicators of 

a person’s standard of living and his place in society. This 

justifies why low-density areas are characterized by 

accessible areas.  

In Calabar South LGA, the urban renewal drive which 

started in 1999, brought about the development and 

rehabilitation of several roads. The road rehabilitation 

process further triggered the development of various land 

uses including residential housing (Eteng, 2016). The 

level to which the roads have promoted housing 

renovation has not been studied in the available literature. 

This suggests that there is a knowledge gap that needs to 

be filled. Against this backdrop, the paper analysed the 

level to which road rehabilitation has impacted housing 

renovation in Calabar South LGA, Cross River State, 

Nigeria.  

 

 

 

Fig. 1: Map of Cross River State showing Calabar South. Insert: Nigeria showing Cross River State 

Source: Geographic Information Agency, 2020 



Global Sustainability Research 

35 
Global Scientific Research 

Materials and Methods 

Study Area 

The study area is Calabar South Local Government Area 

in Cross River State. It has a total landmass of 262 km2 

and it is located between Longitude 8⁰15` East and 8⁰25` 

East of the Greenwich Meridian and Latitude 4⁰54`North 

and 4⁰58`North of the Equator. Owing to its latitudinal 

location, the area receives abundant and constant 

insulation. It is located in the Southern Senatorial District 

of Cross River State. The population of Calabar South was 

185,787 persons according to the 1991 population census 

(NPC, 1991). Current projections show that over 400,000 

persons are residing in the area. the topography of the area 

is a low-lying mass rising gradually upwards towards the 

Calabar Municipality. The vegetation of Calabar South is 

characterized by mangrove and rainforest ecosystems 

which form part of the rich fauna and flora of the state 

(Afandigeh et al., 2011). Figure 1 shows the geographic 

location of the study area. 

 

Methods 

The survey design was used in this study. Data that were 

collected past and present housing conditions. The 

random sampling technique was used in the selection of 

the sampled areas. This is because, all neighbourhoods in 

the study area have the possibilities of being selected as 

roads have been rehabilitated in all the residential districts 

within the last 20 years (2002-2021). Therefore, in order 

to avoid bias, the random sampling technique was applied. 

Therefore, six residential neighbourhoods were selected. 

The selected neighbourhoods that were Henshaw Town, 

Anantigha, Efut Uwanse, Cobham Town and Duke Town 

and Mbukpa. In order to determine the appropriate sample 

size, the Taro Yamane equation was applied. The equation 

is mathematically expressed as follows; 

 n =       N       

        1+N(e)² 

Where; n = Sample Size, N = Finite Population, e = Level 

of Significance (Limit of tolerable error =0.05). In all, a 

sample of 399 households was taken. 

The questionnaire were distributed at the household level.

Analysis and Discussions 

 

Table 1: Condition of Wall before and After Road 

Rehabilitation 

 

S/N 

Condition of 

wall 

Before road rehabilitation After road rehabilitation 

Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage 

1 Sound/Intact 83 21.3 277 71.2 

2 Cracking 121 31.1 73 18.8 

3 Dilapidating  185 47.6 39 10 

 Total 389 100 389 100 

Source: Field Survey, 2022 

 

Table 1shows the comparison of the walls of houses by 

respondents before and after the rehabilitation of the road 

infrastructure. It showed that only 21.3 percent were 

staying in houses whose walls were sound and intact 

before the rehabilitation of the road while the road 

rehabilitation necessitated the upgrading of the walls of 

the houses of 71.2 percent. Furthermore, the numbers of 

cracking walls were reduced due to the road rehabilitation 

exercise as seen in the table. As well, dilapidating walls 

in houses before the rehabilitation of the road were higher 

compared to the situation after the rehabilitation exercise. 

From the observations, it may be deduced that the 

condition of walls in housing units have witnessed 

improvements. 

 

Table 2: Condition of Roof before and after road rehabilitation 

S/N 

Condition of Roof 

 Before road rehabilitation After road rehabilitation 

 Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage 

1 Sound/Intact  84 21.6 241 61.9 

2 Leaking   187 48.1 96 24.7 

3 Sagging    79 20.3 38 9.8 

4 Part missing   39 10 14 3.6 

 Total   389 100 389 100 

Source: Field Survey, 2022 



Global Sustainability Research 

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Global Scientific Research 

Table 2 indicates that before the rehabilitation of the road 

infrastructure, the condition of the roof tops on buildings 

were not in good conditions. For instance, 21.6 percent 

respondents were staying in houses with sound and intact 

roof tops before the rehabilitation of the road while the 

figure skyrocketed as 61.9 percent respondents affirmed 

that their roof tops were upgraded upon after the 

rehabilitation of the road. Equally, 48.1 percent reported 

that their roof tops were leaking before the rehabilitation 

of the road. After the road rehabilitation, this figure was 

reduced as deduced from the opinion of 24.7 percent. 

Furthermore, 20.3 percent roofs were sagging before the 

rehabilitation of the road but were reduced to 9.8 percent. 

In addition, 10 percent parts were missing on their roof 

tops before the rehabilitation of the road while 3.6 percent 

respondents were residing in housing units with missing 

parts. From the table, it is obvious that the houses with 

leaking, sagging and missing parts have also reduced 

Table 3: Fencing before and after the rehabilitation of road  

S/N 

 

Fencing  Before road rehabilitation After road rehabilitation 

Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage 

1 Fenced  98 25.2 194 49.9 

2 Not fenced  291 74.8 195 50.1 

  389 100 389 100 

Source: Field Survey, 2022 

 

Table 3 shows a significant difference in the extent to 

which residence set up fences in their compounds before 

and after the rehabilitation of road.   The table indicated 

that the percentage of residents that stay in fenced 

compounds rosed from 25.5 per cent before the 

rehabilitation of the road to 49.9 per cent after 

rehabilitation. The observations suggest that road 

rehabilitation drastically increased the level to which 

fences were set up in properties by house owners. 

 

Table 4: Painting Before and after road rehabilitation 

S/N 

 

 

Painting  

Before road rehabilitation After road rehabilitation 

Frequency Percentage Frequency Percentage 

1 Painted  112 28.8 204 52.4 

2 Not painted  277 71.2 185 47.6 

 Total 389 100 389 100 

Source: Field Survey, 2022 

It was revealed in table 4 that the percentage of painted 

compounds along rehabilitated roads increased from 28.8 

percent before road rehabilitation to 52.4 percent after the 

rehabilitation of the roads. This is because, the 

rehabilitation of roads drastically encouraged property 

owners to fix and upgrade their structures since demand 

for the housing properties became increased.  

Recommendations 

Based on the findings of this study, the following 

recommendations are made; 

i. Since road rehabilitation manifest 

positive effects on housing renovation, 

there is need to ensure regular 

rehabilitation of roads in the study area 

ii. Rehabilitated roads should also be 

maintained to avoid collapse faster than 

anticipated 

 

 

iii. There is need to incorporate public 

private partners in the rehabilitation 

process 

iv. Development control should be taken 

seriously in the study area to ensure that 

renovation in housing units do not 

contradict with approved urban 

development pattern. 

Conclusion 

This paper analyzed road rehabilitation and housing 

renovation in Calabar South Local Government Area, 

Cross River State, Nigeria.  It was observed that the 

rehabilitation of roads leads to the improvement in the 

conditions of housing units. For instance, the study 

presented a variation in the quality of building 

components that were assessed in the appraisal. the 

variation suggests that housing renovation increased 

drastically after road rehabilitation. From the findings, it 

is clear that road rehabilitation is a positive contributor to 

housing development. Thus, amid growing population 



Global Sustainability Research 

37 
Global Scientific Research 

and the attendant need to ensure good quality housing 

units to shelter people within the study area, good road 

provision and rehabilitation can be adopted as a strategy 

that should be used.  

Acknowledgement: None 

Funding: None 

Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of 

interest  

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