Residential fencing and house gating: An overview of social inequality and urban insecurity in Ilorin, Nigeria

Socio-spatial territoriality manifests as residential fencing and gating and are common features of urban living environments, although the mechanism for determining the best social-mix in housing development is grossly missing. This study aims to determine the social-mix in housing that best mitigates urban insecurity as outcomes of social inequality because of the continually widening gaps between the social classes. The study was carried out in the urban areas of Ilorin in Nigeria, through systematic sampling. Close-ended questionnaire (N = 247) on the phenomena was administered in each building. Results suggest that two types of social-mix in housing can have significant impact of reducing urban insecurity. These are the low status and the middle status, and the upper status and the upper-upper status. Therefore, the study concludes with recommendations in these directions.