Background--It is unknown how socio-demographic variables impact on access to housing
loan schemes among the older persons in Nigeria. This has become essential in order to improve
the preparation for old age among Nigerians. Reliable information is also required to formulate
comprehensive social security system for the elderly.
Quantitative data was collected through individual-based questionnaire. Multi-stage sampling
procedure was employed to select local government areas, enumeration areas and individuals for
the study. In all, 810 respondents were interviewed.
Family size, type of family, education and living arrangement are significantly related to access to
housing loan scheme. In the male model, with the exception of family size and religion, all the
characteristics are insignificantly associated with access to housing loan scheme. In this model,
while those with 1-3 children are 1.7 times more likely, those with more than 6 children are 22
percent less likely to have benefited from housing loan scheme than those with 4-6 children. With
respect to religion, those who are traditionalists are 65 percent less likely to have benefited from
housing loan scheme than the Muslims.
The idea that old-age security and well being in Nigeria should remain the primary responsibility
of the family is untenable. Government must assume the primary responsibility in a partnership in
which the family also continues to play a significant role.