Archiculture, Vol. 5 (1), March 2023 ISSN (Print): 2636-6747 *Author for correspondence: hosaliu@abu.edu.ng, 73 Predictors of Residential Satisfaction Within Selected Public Housing Estates in Lokoja Kogi State, Nigeria Hassan Ozovehe SALIU 1 , Musa Lawal SAGADA 1 , Joy Joshua MAINA 1 and Maruf SANI 2 . 1 Department of Architecture, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. 2 Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. Abstract This study seeks to address the growing body of research on residential satisfaction in emerging cities like Lokoja in Kogi State, Nigeria. While numerous studies have examined the factors that influence residents' satisfaction with their location and housing, there is a dearth of knowledge in this area for emerging cities. The aim of this study is to identify the predictors of residential satisfaction in public housing in Lokoja and to explore the role of user input in public housing delivery in Nigeria. The study collected data from 215 residents living in three housing estates in Lokoja and analysed the data using descriptive analysis, factor analysis, and categorical regression analysis. The results of the regression analysis showed that marital status, monthly income, and the number of bedrooms were significant predictors of residential satisfaction in public houses in Lokoja. Additionally, the study identified other predictors of residential satisfaction in public houses based on sub-component attributes, such as housing management, housing neighbourhood, and housing socio-economic attributes. These factors also showed significant loading in the factor analysis and produced good beta and p-values. Overall, the regression model accounted for approximately 92% of the variance in residential satisfaction in the surveyed houses in Lokoja. The study recommends that the government revise its policies on public housing estates to prioritize the involvement of residents at every stage of the housing process. This would help to improve satisfaction levels across all housing sub-components. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the predictors of residential satisfaction in an emerging city in Nigeria and underscores the importance of user input in public housing delivery. The findings of this study could inform policies to improve public housing delivery and enhance residents' satisfaction in emerging cities across Nigeria. Keywords: Housing attribute, Lokoja, Nigeria, Public Housing, Predictors, Residential satisfaction. 1. Introduction Public housing is a form of housing that is provided by the government for citizens to live in, and its purpose is to address the housing needs of the population and reduce the cost of producing housing. However, according to some authors (Ukoha and Beamish, 1997, Ogunsote and Afolabi, 2021), many people living in public housing are dissatisfied with their housing conditions. This dissatisfaction may be due to the fact that the residents have limited participation in the housing development process, particularly in the public sector. In addition, Ishiyaku (2016) and Kasim et al. (2007) have pointed out that public housing programs often prioritize the production of affordable housing over the quality and satisfaction of the occupants. Residents' satisfaction with public housing is associated with demographic and housing-related factors, as per Jiboye (2008) and Ibem et al. (2018). According to Makinde (2015), residents' subjective evaluations of their living spaces are influenced by personal requirements, expectations, or goals, and their perception of the location's characteristics. This viewpoint is also shared by Lynch and Appleyard (2019), Brown et al. (2020), and Aboagye, Nwaoha, & Al-Khafaji (2021). Tan (2020) state that residents' satisfaction is determined by the perceived gap between their achievements and aspirations. Similarly, Abe and Kato (2017), Adeyemo and Aderonmu (2020), Fagbenle and Adeyemi (2020), and Olubodun and Adenuga (2021) define residents' satisfaction as the level of happiness or fulfilment that individuals living in a particular residential area experience with the physical, social, and environmental conditions of their residential environment. It serves as a measure of the residents' well-being and happiness with their living conditions. Understanding how residential satisfaction is affected by the residential environment and different aspects of housing, such as housing unit and neighbourhood characteristics, management, demographics, and socioeconomic status, is crucial in housing research.