RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD ATTACHMENT OF RESIDENTS IN UYO URBAN, AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

Purpose: The paper examined the relationship between the residential environmental quality and neighbourhood attachments in Uyo urban, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria..

Design/methodology/approach: The research design adopted was survey technique in which 381 copies of questionnaire were administered in 10 sampled neighbourhoods in Uyo urban. Data were extracted from 298 questionnaire that were returned fit for analysis. With the aid of Stata statistical tool regression analysis technique was applied on the data.

Findings: The study revealed that residents are more attached to neighbourhoods with good road network accessibility, and availability of recreational services. It was also revealed that commercial services significantly influenced residents to live for a long time in their neighbourhoods.

Research limitations/Implications: There were no clear cut residential neighbourhoods but communities of mixed uses. The communities were taken as residential neighbourhoods and the focus was on residential buildings.

Practical implications: Based on the findings, it is recommended that government should improve on the provisions of security to protect both lives and properties of the residents, ensure timely waste evacuation, to constantly keep the residential environment clean, ensure the availability of commercial and educational services. The implication of this is that neighbourhoods would continue to degenerate with attendant health hazards on residents.

Originality/value: Residents are not quite satisfied with the quality of residential environment in Uyo urban. I addition, findings revealed that residents are more attached to neighbourhoods with good road network accessibility, and availability of recreational services.