Haleemat Oluwatoyin YUSUF2025-09-232025-09-232025-12Kate TurabiaP.hDhttps://repository.lcu.edu.ng/handle/123456789/1075Housing constitutes a fundamental human necessity and a significant asset reflecting socio-economic conditions. However, the increase of abandoned residential properties poses a substantial challenge to urban prosperity in Nigeria, manifesting as community decline, heightened crime, health risks, and reduced property values. While socioeconomic impacts have been studied, the environmental consequences of housing abandonment, particularly within the Nigerian context, remain significantly underexplored. This doctoral research addresses this gap by investigating the spatial distribution and multifaceted impacts including ecological dimensions of abandoned buildings within selected government housing estates in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. The study aims to provide empirical evidence to inform policies for preventing further abandonment and revitalizing affected areas. A mixed- methods case study approach was employed, focusing on four purposively selected housing estates: Ibara, Asero, Obasanjo Hilltop, and Laderin. Data collection integrated quantitative and qualitative techniques, including field surveys with 507 questionnaires administered to residents, direct observation, GPS coordinate mapping of abandoned sites, analysis of relevant documents, key informant interviews with officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Housing (MOH), Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development (MPPUD), Ogun State Property Investment Corporation (OPIC), and the Ogun State Urban Planning Authority, alongside focus group discussions with community members. Data analysis utilized descriptive statistics, Relative Importance Index (RII), Pearson correlation (via SPSS), and geospatial analysis using QGIS software. The findings revealed a substantial presence of abandoned properties across the estates, with counts of 156 in Ibara GRA, 97 in Asero, 80 in Obasanjo Hilltop, and 67 in Laderin. Primary factors driving abandonment included the death of property owners (mean score 4.77), low income (3.29), mismanagement (3.11), absentee ownership, high construction material costs, and litigation. Statistical analysis indicated these factors explained a significant proportion (Adjusted R² = 0.823) of the variance in abandonment issues. The resultant impacts are severe, notably heightened crime vulnerability (mean score 4.39), property decay (4.30), significant health challenges (4.09), environmental pollution (3.88), depreciation of adjacent property values, and the creation of hazardous environments that impede community development and degrade urban aesthetics. This research concludes that abandoned housing estates significantly undermine environmental quality, socio-economic stability, and public health within Abeokuta, exposing deficiencies in current urban development policies and enforcement. While significant potential exists for managing these properties through adaptive reuse strategies like conversion to green spaces (mean score 4.86) or renovation (4.21), these opportunities remain largely untapped. Key recommendations include the formulation and enforcement of specific regulations targeting abandoned buildings, comprehensive evaluation of reuse potential using spatial and structural analysis, provision of affordable mortgage schemes to facilitate project completion or renovation, implementation of time-limited fines for neglect leading to potential government acquisition for beneficial reuse, and mandatory regular inspections by planning and environmental agencies to mitigate risks and ensure compliance. Keywords: Architecture of futility, Abandoned buildings, Housing Estates, Environmental Impacts. Word Counts: 451enArchitecture of futilityAbandoned buildingsHousing EstatesEnvironmental Impacts.Thesis