Assessing the Relationship Between CPTED Features and Residents' Perception of Safety in Government-Built Residential Estates in Yenogoa, Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) features and residents’ perception of safety in government-built residential estates in Yenagoa, Nigeria, where security challenges persist despite planned housing provision. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining questionnaire surveys (five point Likert scale), key informant interviews, and on-site CPTED audits across selected estates. Quantitative data were analysed using weighted mean scores to derive a composite CPTED index, while Pearson correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationship between design performance and safety perception. The findings reveal significant variation in CPTED performance across estates, with Old Commissioners’ Quarters recording the highest composite score (4.01; index = 0.75) and Agbura Estate the lowest (2.38; index = 0.35). A weak positive correlation (r = 0.32) was observed between CPTED performance and safety perception, suggesting that design features alone partially explain residents’ sense of safety. Notable inconsistencies were observed, including higher-than-expected safety perception in Agbura Estate despite low CPTED performance, highlighting the influence of other factors. This study contributes to knowledge by providing empirical evidence from a Nigerian context and by advancing a peculiar understanding of CPTED, in which crime prevention and control outcomes emerge from the interaction between design, environmental management, and social organisation. The findings underscore the need for holistic housing strategies that combine architectural design with sustained maintenance and governance frameworks.