Urban Nigeria Research Articles

Urban Noise Pollution in Nigerian Cities: Imperatives for Abatement

Noise, it is said, is any sound that is unpleasant to the ear. Medically, when it persists, it can damage the ear. Considering the ear organ, it has been said that human ears were designed to process naturally-occurring sounds, and they are beautifully adapted to handle that task. They are able to detect sounds of intensities that vary across many orders of magnitude, and to meaningfully transmit these signals to our brains. But they are not well equipped to deal with the high noise levels that are common in Nigeria’s urban centres today, because such loud sounds occur only rarely in nature. Although the eardrum may sometimes be ruptured by severe noise (acoustic trauma) or pressure changes, the part that is most vulnerable to damage by noise lies more deeply in the inner ear, where the final processing takes place before the sound is converted into nerve impulses that are transmitted to the brain. The extent of damage noise pollution could inflict on man provided the impetus for this study which aims to verify the persistent incidence and magnitude of noise pollution in urban Nigeria. Findings revealed that urban dwellers in Nigeria are exposed to high noise levels (above 70 decibels), with the attendant health implications. The study recommends technical, planning, behavioural and public enlightenment strategies to abate noise pollution in urban Nigeria.

Knowledge and attitude of general practitioners regarding diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in a Nigerian city

Background: Hypertension is highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, underlying many of the fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events. Objectives: To examine the level of knowledge of primary care physicians in urban Nigeria, as regards to hypertension. Participants: A cross-sectional survey of general medical practitioners in Lagos, Nigeria was undertaken in the months of July and August 2011 using self-administered semi-structured questionnaires. Results: There were 74 respondents, 59.5% of whom were men and the bulk of the subjects, 41.9% were in the 30-39 years age range. Duration since graduation of 0-5 years, 56.8% and ≥21 years, 17.6% had the highest respondents. The bulk of the respondents, 90.5% were aware of the existence of guidelines on hypertension but 35.1% were not familiar with the details of any guideline. Majority, 97.3% agreed to the usefulness of guidelines and 93.2% correctly identified cut-off values for hypertension. All but one agreed to the need of referral of complicated cases to hypertension experts and would recommend lifestyle modification for all. About 44.6% of respondents generally attended 5 or more continuing professional development (CPD) per year. Conclusion: Awareness of the existence of guidelines on hypertension and attendance at CPD programs is quite high among general medical practitioners in urban Nigeria. Knowledge of the details of these guidelines however is not as high. Focus on hypertension guidelines in most of the CPDs is recommended considering the public health importance of hypertension.

Gender Inequality , Poverty Alleviation and Sustainable Development in Nigeria : Lessons from the Rapti Women Empowerment Project , Nepal

There has been a growing incidence of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa over the last two decades. Historically, it is a fact that women have not been seen as equal partners in growth and development process. Poverty has a gender dimension since women and men experience and react differently to its impact. Within the framework of social exclusion theory, the paper argued that there cannot be genuine sustainable development aimed at poverty alleviation, without mainstreaming women in all development structures and processes. The study established among others, that a lot of efforts have been made in poverty alleviation in Nigeria through poverty alleviation programs. However, the reality on ground indicates that despite these interventions, there is geometrical increase in the number of the poor both in rural and urban Nigeria. Therefore, there is need to intensify efforts in poverty alleviation programs, especially as regards to beneficiaries participation in decision making and implementation, human resource training and development and legal framework. Nigeria can adopt the template of Rapti Women Empowerment Project in Nepal. Sustainable poverty alleviation strategies should engage and empower men and more of women as actors and beneficiaries. It concludes that unless there are genuine, realistic and workable interventions to address the ugly situation, poverty will remain a vicious circle that could be inherited from one generation to the other in communities, families and the nation at large.

“Policing Is Not Work: It Is Stealing by Force”: Corrupt Policing and Related Abuses in Everyday Nigeria

This article critically and empirically examines the everyday problem of corrupt policing and related abuses in urban Nigeria, with attention to the threat posed to ordinary Nigerians’ basic human rights. The analysis, sociohistorically anchored, foregrounds colonial and military policies that have entrenched a culture of predation in the Nigeria Police Force. The article contributes to existing scholarship by directly relating corrupt and abusive policing to complex sociohistorical conditions, rather than seeing it as a purely managerial problem, whose solution lies in simplistic demands for internal reform. The article attempts to fill a gap in empirical scholarship by approaching corrupt and abusive policing from the angle of everyday practice, rather than by taking normative structural approaches and basing suppositions of actual behavior upon these. The article draws on evidence from eight months of ethnographic fieldwork research in Lagos State, southwestern Nigeria. The fieldwork evidence is supported by analyses of public discourse, a review of extant literature, some semiformal interviews, a review of national constitutions and international human rights law, and historical research. These together suggest conclusions pertinent to democratic reform of the Nigerian police.

The African electricity deficit: Computing the minimum energy poverty line using field research in urban Nigeria

Energy poverty has long been defined in Developing-Rural or Western-Urban contexts. For the parts of the world classified as energy-poor, the Developing-Rural context is used, but the population density of the energy poor is much higher in the urban areas of developing states and this trend is expected to continue over the next 30 years. Moreover, computations of energy use in developing states have been based on electricity use in industrialized states. Drawing on extensive qualitative and quantitative methods, and using field research in Nigeria, this article describes a context-specific way to compute actual energy consumption, with electricity as the proxy. It proposes a minimum energy poverty line of 3068kWh/capyr (350W/cap), which is sufficient to provide for basic needs in an urban household. With the energy poverty line representing an energy-secure household, three scenarios were modeled for name-plate capacity generation based on data collected: low-consumer, high-consumer, and energy-secure households. These scenarios were compared to current generation capacity for select sub-Saharan West African countries. I found that these countries all produced insufficient power to supply all their citizenry, even if the entire populace were comprised of low-energy consumers. I found no relationship between actual household electricity consumption and electricity bills.

Effect of urban household farming on food security status in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria

Agriculture is an important tool for reducing the effects of household food insecurity, unemployment and poverty which are major problems in urban areas in Nigeria. Food insecurity continues to worsen in some urban areas of the country and many households resulted into urban farming as a means of coping. The study investigated the effect of urban household farming on food security status in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State, Nigeria. Primary data was collected for the study using structured questionnaire. Two-stage sampling technique was employed for this study. The first stage involved the random selection of two urban local government areas from Ibadan metropolis. This was followed with the selection of 110 urban farming households from these local government areas. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke and probit regression. Results showed that sex, years of schooling, marital status, household size, access to extension agent, hired labour and type of farming enterprises are determinants of food security. The study recommends the policies that make extension services accessible to urban farmers and also skills development among others.

The Origins of Voluntary Compliance: Attitudes toward Taxation in Urban Nigeria

Voluntary compliance is an important aspect of strong tax regimes, but there is limited understanding of how social norms favoring compliance emerge. Using novel data from urban Nigeria, where tax enforcement is weak, this article shows that individuals with a positive experience of state services delivery are more likely to express belief in an unconditioned citizen obligation to pay tax. In addition to support for this fiscal exchange mechanism, social context is consequential. Where individuals have access to community-provided goods, which may substitute for effective state services provision, they are less likely to adopt pro-compliance norms. Finally, the article shows that norm adoption increases tax payment. These findings have broad implications for literatures on state formation, taxation and public goods provision.

Repeat Use of Emergency Contraceptive Pills in Urban Kenya and Nigeria

Little is known about the frequency and patterns of use of emergency contraceptive pills among women in urban Kenya and Nigeria. To recruit women who had used emergency contraceptive pills, individuals aged 18-49 were intercepted and interviewed at shopping venues in Nairobi, Kenya, and Lagos, Nigeria, in 2011. Information was collected on 539 Nairobi and 483 Lagos respondents' demographic and behavioral characteristics, attitudes toward the method, and frequency of use. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to identify associations between these characteristics and frequency of pill use. Eighteen percent of the women interviewed in Nairobi and 17% in Lagos had ever used emergency contraceptive pills. On average, these respondents had used the pills less than once per month, but greater use and acceptance were seen in Lagos. In multivariate analysis, women who had sex at least once in a typical week were generally more likely than others to have used the pills 2-5 times in the last six months, rather than once or never, or to have used them six or more times. Furthermore, Lagos respondents who said their main contraceptive method was the condom, the pill or injectable, or a natural method were generally less likely than those who did not report these methods to have used the emergency pills multiple times in the last six months. Repeated use of emergency contraceptive pills was not common in this sample.

Oral bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in urban dusts of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

A literature survey has shown that no study has investigated the oral bioaccessibility of PTEs in Nigeria dusts. Studies on human health risk of PTEs from urban Nigeria dust have been based only on total elemental concentrations. Whilst this protocol is useful in assessing human health of PTEs, it could lead to an over estimation of the risk considering the elemental sequestration in the dust samples. This study deviated from previous studies by examining the total concentrations as well as the oral bioaccessibility of 8 PTEs in 15 urban dust samples collected from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The result showed that high concentrations of Pb (ranging from 236 – 1815 mg/kg) were observed in 5 locations. The Unified Bioaccessibility Method (UBM) was used to investigate the oral bioaccessibility of these PTEs in the urban dust samples. The result revealed that all the PTEs were more bioaccessible in the gastric phase that the gastric + intestinal phase. The lead tolerable daily intake (TDI), as well as the bioaccessible TDI, was computed and results compared with a guideline value.Keywords: Urban dust; PTEs; oral ingestion; bioaccessibility; ICP-MS; Abakaliki

Commercial motorcycle drivers' perceptions of risk and road safety in urban Nigeria: an explorative study

Road traffic injury is a great public health challenge with an emerging trend of increasing rates and high mortality involving commercial motorcycles in Nigeria. A qualitative approach was used with 10 in-depth interviews conducted to explore the risk perceptions of commercial motorcyclists in Ibadan, Nigeria. The data analysis using manifest and latent content analysis resulted in an overarching theme: inadequate structures and internalised norms prevent change. The three themes leading to the overarching theme are: risk-taking as generally acceptable; risk-taking as an intrinsic part of occupation; and risk-taking as a way to make ends meet. The study suggests that there is a great need for adequate regulation as regards training and licensing of riders. Also the need to tighten enforcement of traffic rules is paramount to road safety in Nigeria.

An assessment of the quality of advice provided by patent medicine vendors to users of oral contraceptive pills in urban Nigeria.

IntroductionIn Nigeria about 50% of oral contraceptive pill users obtain their products from proprietary patent medicine vendors (PPMVs). This group of service providers are poorly trained and have very limited knowledge about contraception. This paper investigated the nature of the advice offered to simulated current and potential users of oral contraceptive pills. The main objective was to assess the nature and quality of advice provided by PPMVs to pill users.MethodThis study is based on findings from a ‘mystery client’ approach in which three scenarios related to contraceptive pill use were simulated. Each of the 12 mystery clients simulated one of the following three scenarios: new pill users (new to family planning or switching from condom to pills); user seeking a resupply of pills; and dissatisfied pill users intending to discontinue use. Simple random sampling was used to select 410 PPMVs from a total of 1,826 in four states in Nigeria. Qualitative study using in-depth interviews was also conducted.ResultsA majority of the PPMVs had pills in stock on the day of the survey and resupplied pills to the clients. PPMVs also understood the reason and importance of referring clients who were new adopters of oral contraceptive methods to a health facility; 30% of the PPMVs referred new adopters to a health facility. However, demand from clients who do not want to go to health care facilities (for various reasons) necessitated the provision of oral contraceptive pills to 41% of the first time users. Some PPMVs prescribed treatment to mystery clients who presented with perceived complications arising from the use of pills, while 49% were referred to a health facility.ConclusionThe advice given by PPMVs often falls short of safety guidelines related to the use of oral contraceptive pills. There is a need to continuously update knowledge among the PPMVs to ensure that they provide quality oral contraceptive services as PPMVs bridge the gap between medical experts and users in rural communities.

Emergency Contraceptive Knowledge and Use among Urban Women in Nigeria and Kenya

Rates of emergency contraceptive (EC) use in sub-Saharan Africa are highest in Kenya and Nigeria, although little is known about user characteristics and use dynamics in these countries. To better meet women's emergency contraceptive needs and to contribute to the limited knowledge base regarding this method in Africa, this study examines data from a sample of EC users drawn from a large, representative household survey that included sexually experienced women in urban Kenya and Nigeria. Bivariate and multivariate analyses reveal greater knowledge of EC among these urban women than was reported in other nationally representative surveys. Recent users of EC were more likely to be in their 20s, unmarried, and more highly educated than never users or ever users of EC in both countries. Results contradict public perceptions of EC users as young adolescents and indicate the importance of strengthening EC provision in Africa, including targeting information and services to unmarried women and supporting private pharmacies in delivering quality services.

Social Networks in Urban Nigeria

Social Networks in Urban Nigeria

Urbanization, capitalism and housing: Space, survival and a disconnect for urban poor in Nigeria

One of the recent developments in cities across Nigeria is the conversion of inner-city residential houses to shopping malls, banking halls, and other commercial purposes by government, private establishments and individuals. The implication is that occupants of these residential apartments who, usually, are low- and middle-income earners are forced to relocate to outskirts and suburbs based on the financial implication of securing residential apartments in the heart of the city. Although this may suggest a positive development as far as Nigerian urban centres are concerned in terms of modernization and profit making, its implication for the displaced occupants in terms of access to expected basic infrastructures in urban societies becomes questionable. Therefore, this article explores the challenges of displaced inner-city occupants in urban Nigeria; it critically explores the roles of the government and other stakeholders in meeting the urban demands of displaced occupants in terms of access to social and health amenities within the urban spaces. Furthermore, it critically explores the nexus between capitalism, urban poor and housing in Nigeria, and finally the conclusion.

The Role of Gender Empowerment on Reproductive Health Outcomes in Urban Nigeria

To date, limited evidence is available for urban populations in sub-Saharan Africa, specifically research into the association between urban women's empowerment and reproductive health outcomes. The objective of this study is to investigate whether women's empowerment in urban Nigerian settings is associated with family planning use and maternal health behaviors. Moreover, we examine whether different effects of empowerment exist by region of residence. This study uses baseline household survey data from the Measurement, Learning and Evaluation Project for the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative being implemented in six major cities. We examine four dimensions of empowerment: economic freedom, attitudes towards domestic violence, partner prohibitions and decision-making. We determine if the empowerment dimensions have different effects on reproductive health outcomes by region of residence using multivariate analyses. Results indicate that more empowered women are more likely to use modern contraception, deliver in a health facility and have a skilled attendant at birth. These trends vary by empowerment dimension and by city/region in Nigeria. We conclude by discussing the implications of these findings on future programs seeking to improve reproductive health outcomes in urban Nigeria and beyond.

The Role of Gender Empowerment on Reproductive Health Outcomes in Urban Nigeria

The Role of Gender Empowerment on Reproductive Health Outcomes in Urban Nigeria

Social Welfare Analysis of Gender Inequality in Education and Employment: Ranking Gender Inequality in Rural and Urban Nigeria with Generalized Lorenz Curves

Social Welfare Analysis of Gender Inequality in Education and Employment: Ranking Gender Inequality in Rural and Urban Nigeria with Generalized Lorenz Curves

Assessing Gaps and Poverty-Related Inequalities in the Public and Private Sector Family Planning Supply Environment of Urban Nigeria

Assessing Gaps and Poverty-Related Inequalities in the Public and Private Sector Family Planning Supply Environment of Urban Nigeria

Assessing Gaps and Poverty-Related Inequalities in the Public and Private Sector Family Planning Supply Environment of Urban Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and its population is expected to double in <25 years (Central Intelligence Agency 2012; Fotso et al. 2011). Over half of the population already lives in an urban area, and by 2050, that proportion will increase to three quarters (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division 2012; Measurement Learning & Evaluation Project, Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative, National Population Commission 2012). Reducing unwanted and unplanned pregnancies through reliable access to high-quality modern contraceptives, especially among the urban poor, could make a major contribution to moderating population growth and improving the livelihood of urban residents. This study uses facility census data to create and assign aggregate-level family planning (FP) supply index scores to 19 local government areas (LGAs) across six selected cities of Nigeria. It then explores the relationships between public and private sector FP services and determines whether contraceptive access and availability in either sector is correlated with community-level wealth. Data show pronounced variability in contraceptive access and availability across LGAs in both sectors, with a positive correlation between public sector and private sector supply environments and only localized associations between the FP supply environments and poverty. These results will be useful for program planners and policy makers to improve equal access to contraception through the expansion or redistribution of services in focused urban areas.

‘ENVIRONMENTAL AKALISM’ AND THE WAR ON FILTH: THE PERSONIFICATION OF SANITATION IN URBAN NIGERIA

ABSTRACTIn Nigerian cities, as across much of Africa, sanitation practices at zone, ward and street levels inscribe – in patterns of circulation and interaction around waste – not only the hopes and fears of urban residents and managers, but also the aspirations and failures encoded in colonial and post-colonial national and regional histories. Adjusting to numerous challenges – the interplay of racist colonial zoning strategies, rapid post-colonial urban expansion, the withdrawal of public services amid the liberalization programmes of the 1980s, the increasingly abject character of the social contract, and the ongoing tenuousness of economic life and activity – urban environmental sanitation in Nigeria has long struggled to keep pace with the historical dynamics of the country's emergent metropolises. Following the activities of a cohort of inspectors and volunteers at the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Oyo State, this article examines the politics of performance and coercion surrounding the monthly observance of Environmental Sanitation Day in Ibadan amid the heightened political tensions of the electoral season in 2011.