ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMAL RESIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT OF BOSSO RESIDENTS IN MINNA NIGER STATE

<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The study evaluated the socio-economic characteristics of inhabitants of informal settlements in Bosso, Minna, Niger State. The study utilized a projected population of Bosso of 1,500 households and arrived at a sample size of 251 after applying the Kothari (2004) sample size model to obtain a representative sample for the study.</p><p><strong>Design/Methodology/Approach:</strong> The study employed a closed-ended questionnaire, and systematic random sampling was used to administer 251 questionnaires to every 10^th house. A total of 247 questionnaires were returned with complete responses and analyzed for the study. Data analysis employed percentages, cross-tabulation, and chi-square tests.</p><p><strong>Findings:</strong> The results revealed that 76.9% of households falling within the second to fourth household-size categories were living below half a dollar per day.</p><p><strong>Research Limitation/Implication:</strong> The study was limited to the use of socio-economic characteristics of residents in Bosso Local Government Area of Niger State.</p><p><strong>Originality:</strong> The results revealed that the level of education and household size were significantly related to income level. The study concludes that the informal settlement area of Bosso was characterized by poverty, as the majority of households lived below half a dollar per day.</p>