Abstract

This study examined the modes of user participation in the modification of public housing Estates in Yola. Data was elicited from modified owner occupier houses in eleven housing estates and the pattern of user participation was measured using Wulz seven approaches to user participation – Representation, Questionary, Regionalism, Dialogue, Alternative, Co-decision and Self-decision. Components of entrance to the buildings, access to goods and services and usability of rest rooms, was used to measure user satisfaction at planning, design and construction stages of the modification. Findings from the study indicates that Overall Satisfaction with modification outcomes has a significant positive correlations at p<0.01 level with the variables of the components. A comparison of level of satisfaction among the different modes of users participation in the buildings modification revealed highly statistically significant mean differences (p<0.05) between the groups at all stages (Planning, Design, Construction). “Self-decision” had significant higher mean level of satisfaction (p<0.05) compared with the other modes of participation at all stages. The study recommends user controlled housing planning, design and construction, to achieve high level of satisfaction and reduce modification in urban mass housing.