Mitigating Insecurity Through Tenant Selection: Implications for Sustainable Urban Resilience in Nigeria

Abstract

Insecurity has become a major menace in Nigeria. Terrorism, kidnapping, robbery, and other related activities have become rampant. Insecurity has become a major concern to tenants, landlords, and estate surveyors and valuers as well as security agencies in Nigeria. Besides its security implications, tenant-related insecurity is a major impediment to sustainable urban resilience due to the jeopardy of the safety, inclusiveness, and sustainability of communities.

The current study focused on examining the extent to which tenant selection mechanisms contribute to enhanced security and sustainable urban resilience in Nigeria’s real estate. A quantitative survey research design was adopted for the study. The data were gathered from 250 respondents comprising landlords, tenants, property managers, and security personnel in different locations in Agbor and Asaba, Nigeria. Data analysis procedures included descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) and multiple regression. The study revealed that identity of tenants, guarantor demand, police clearance, taking previous landlords as a reference, and taking of biometrics of tenants are techniques of tenant screening that have potential in promoting community safety, crime prevention, and secure residential environments.

This study concluded that appropriate tenant selection mechanisms are security measures that can help reduce security challenges and promote sustainable urban resilience. The study also revealed that tenant selection mechanisms contribute to achieving SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through the creation of safe and secure neighborhoods and promoting the SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) goal by enhancing security governance and crime prevention. It was recommended that there should be mandatory tenant profiling and the establishment of a law requiring landlords to cooperate with the security agencies in tenants profiling. The study suggested that a national database of tenants should be created, and that Multi-stakeholder partnerships (in line with the SDG 17) should be developed to enhance security and promote sustainable community development in Nigeria.