International Journal of Research in Environmental Science (IJRES) Volume 3, Issue 1, 2017, PP 1-9 ISSN 2454-9444 (Online) http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-9444.0301001 www.arcjournals.org ©ARC Page | 1 Evaluating Construction Challenges of Private Housing Developers within Various Income Areas of Jos Metropolis Achoru Afam Mike, Ashen Musa Jacob Department of Estate Management, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Jos, Nigeria. Abstract: Housing is said to be a crucial/basic need for humans just as food and clothing. Housing Construction challenges have over the years led to limited housing development and supply. This work evaluates these challenges within various residential income areas of Jos metropolis and tries to proffer solutions via recommendations. The income areas include Rayfield, G.R.A and Gold & Base (High Income). Millionaires quarters, Lamingo and Rock Heaven (Middle income) while Jenta, Gada Biu, Rikkos, Hwolse and Angwan Rogo represented the low income areas. A structured questionnaire containing housing construction challenges was designed for the study. 90 copies were distributed to staff of Jos Electricity distribution company (JEDC) (30 for high, 30 for middle and 30 for low income areas) and 90 retrieved. Data analysis tools used were percentage score method Standard deviation/mean score calculation. Results for standard deviation, mean score values and ranking of challenge factors are provided via tables for the various income areas. The findings are revealed and recommendations to curb these challenges are proffered. Keywords: Housing, Construction, Challenges, Income Areas. 1. INTRODUCTION Housing (Shelter) is unarguably one of the basic necessities of man. It used to be ranked second after food in the hierarchy of man‟s needs but according to Ebie (2009) it is the first and most important of all rights. Ebie (2009) further expressed that because of the importance attached to provision of housing and coupled with the fact that housing in all its ramifications is more than mere shelter since it embraces all social services and utilities that go to make a community or neighbourhood a liveable environment, it is now a right. Affordability refers to people‟s ability to purchase essential (or basic) goods and services, such as adequate housing, healthy food, and medical care (Olotuah, 2009). This however is hindered by construction challenges in the process of housing development. This further implies that basic amenities and policies can be made available to regulate, control and effectively hasten housing development process (Peterside, 2005). Peterside (2005) further expressed that challenge of housing construction range from one income level to another. Enlightenment on these challenges will go a long way to determine investment decision making. In order for housing to be achieved at all levels, its process must overcome construction challenges (Peterside, 2005). The term private housing development refers to the creation of housing for a person or group of people either through direct construction or by contract/ extended labour services. Affordable housing is a term used to describe housing units whose total housing costs are deemed “affordable” to a group of people within a specified income range. This in turn means that challenges would have been overcome during the process of construction. When a person‟s income level does not match the housing construction project about to be embarked on, numerous challenges are will definitely occur which may lead to project delay or abandonment (Kanu, 2012). In Nigeria, qualitative private housing has been and is still an illusion to lower and middle class Nigerians, as governments are not prepared to really provide affordable housing to citizens (Ajanlekoko, 2001). 1.1. Aim And Objectives The aim of this study is to evaluate housing construction challenges faced by private developers in various residential income areas of Jos metropolis with a view to developing a tabular breakdown encompassing the challenges from data obtained. This will be guided with the following objectives;