IMPACT OF KOGI STATE UNIVERSITY ON HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF ANYIGBA TOWN, KOGI STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Liberalization of the establishment of tertiary educational institutions across Nigeria in recent times has created new growth poles as places or settlements where the institutions are located have benefitted from several associated social and economic benefits. However, the establishment of several of these new tertiary institutions have not been accompanied with the required investment in the building of on-campus student housing or hostel accommodation. This study therefore, analyzed the impact of the establishment of Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba on housing development and environmental quality of the town. Amongst others the study examines the pattern of housing development and level of adherence to physical development regulations in the study area and the characteristics of neighbourhoods around the KSU campus where most of the off- campus  student  hostels  are situated. As  part  of  the study a  total  of 364  copies  the questionnaire were administered on heads of households and landlords of the houses where students resided using a systematic random sampling. The focus of the questionnaire administration was to determine factors that influence housing development in neighbourhoods around the campus of KSU and the level of adherence to extant physical planning regulations in the development of these off-campus student hostels. Personal observation was also used to obtain data on the visual quality of the study area. Descriptive and inferential analytical techniques were adopted for the analysis of data obtained with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Among others, the study revealed that 68% of housing used for off-campus student hostels did not observe the required plot ratio of 45 to 60% and setbacks of 6m in the front, 3m at the sides and back respectively while 26% of the houses did not have toilets and other required conveniences such as kitchens and bathrooms. The study further established that toilets are inadequate in 61.6% of the houses that had such facility, 28.3% had poor quality softscape elements, 46.7% had fair hardscape quality, 72% of the access roads are in poor condition. Amongst others, the study recommends a more rigorous physical development control in the area to stem the ugly scenario of unwholesome housing development and poor environmental quality.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

Tertiary institutions contribute to the growth and improvement of the society and aid their host communities in achieving participatory democracy in the process of globalization (Ali, 2010). The location of tertiary institution in a community has been identified to be of immense significance to the overall development of the area. This is linked with Nasreen‘s (2015) concept of ‗new idea‘. Location impact therefore means the influence of the manifestation of such new idea on the environment. This new idea or concept can be conceptualised in form of the establishment of Tertiary Institutions encouraged by a State, Regional or Federal Government and an individual in a location. Investors and developers have realised the fact that location of a Tertiary Institution in an area or community could enhance rapid development of such area Socio-economically (Ehinmowo and Eludoyin, 2010). The sitting of a Tertiary institution in a community creates employment opportunity for both the skilled and unskilled labour, and consequently increase the population of the town as a result of people migrating into the town to seek employment (Ayobami, 1977). It could also result to changes in profitable activities, changes in building conditions and use in order to cope with the educational trends (Brennan et al., 2004).

The governance of higher education the world over has shifted significantly since the past few decades, especially since the 1990s (de Boer and File, 2009). As a result of the pressure of budgetary limitations, national governments of some developing countries have  reduced  their  expenditures  on  higher  education.  This  has  resulted  in  the liberalisation of the ownership and establishments of higher institutions which in turns resulted in spatial development of its neighbourhoods (Middlehurst and Teixeira, 2012). Centripetal forces of attraction are the basic attribute of tertiary institutions irrespective of their geographical location; they are usually synonymous with the pulling of economic, social and cultural activities (O‘Flaherty, 2005). At the neighbourhood level, students and workers are spatially clustered in locations near the campus as well as locations that offer enormous prospects (Rugg et al., 2002; Charbonneau et al., 2006; Smith & Holt, 2007; Hubbard, 2008).

In recent years, the Federal government of Nigeria has indicated enormous enthusiasm to the growth of tertiary education sector thereby establishing more institutions, especially universities and the liberalization of its ownership. While liberalizing the ownership of higher institutions, inadequate attention has been accorded to the provision of housing in the Institutions to provide for the influx of students and staff. In view of this inadequacy in complimentary housing provision, higher percentage of the students take succour in the off-campus as an alternative to on-campus accommodation. Owing to the inadequacy of on-campus student housing facilities in Nigerian tertiary institutions, Housing developers have identified a blooming off-campus student housing as a viable investment. However, off-campus student housing is associated with plethora of problems. For instance, Umaru et al. (2012) reported that off-campus student residence is characterised by hostilities and poor  housing  maintenance.  Furthermore,  although  Amole  (2009)  noted  that  some students choose to live off-campus on their own preference, Olabisi, (2011) maintained that students‘ access to on-campus housing facilities is often limited.

The creation of Kogi State University (KSU) Anyigba in 1999 has exacerbated the rate of immigration of people to Anyigba Town at high rate (Ifatimehin & Ufuah, 2006). It has equally engendered unprecedented rate of immigration to the town, which has resulted in

unparalleled land use change in the entire University‘s host community through massive residential and rental housing development and renovation of existing housing stock to attract prospective users. More so, there is proliferation of physical development without approval from Kogi State Town Planning and Development Board. This has lead to the proliferation of unapproved and haphazard housing development. The institution has become a growth pole and a pull factor that attracts and creates substantial impact on the economic base of the host community and its environs. It has created ample job prospects to both indigenes and non-indigenes of the town.

Before the establishment of KSU, Anyigba town experienced relatively low population growth. However, the establishment of KSU has led to unprecedented increase in population of the town alongside housing development (Ifatimehin et al., 2009). The effects of the institution on the town include but not limited to employment generation, socio-cultural  development  and  the  establishment  of  human  resource  and  research training centre. Apart from the population growth occasioned by high fecundity in Anyigba, the influx of students, employees of the university, businessmen and women and informal artisanal workers owing to the presence of the University, has led to an increasing rate of housing development in Anyigba which inadvertently affects the environmental quality.

The increasing housing demand in Anyigba has resulted in rapid and haphazard housing development with resultant impacts on the quality of the environment of the area.

1.2       Statement of the Research Problem

The issue of location of tertiary education institutions has been studied from several perspectives.  O‘Flaherty (2005)  for  example,  studied  the implications  of location  of tertiary institutions on the economy of cities.  Ifatimehin & Ufuah (2006), following O‘Flaherty (2005) made a commendable improvement by studying the effects of tertiary institutions on rural economy. Furthermore, Ifatimehin et al. (2009) analysed the impacts of tertiary institutions on land use and land cover change. DiNapoli (2010) and Kelly et al. (2014) analysed the economic and social impacts of location of tertiary institutions on host communities. A further analysis by Kemiki et al. (2016) focused specifically on the impact of tertiary institutions on the physical development of their host communities. However, these studies were too general and failed to look at the impacts of tertiary educational institutions on housing development and environmental quality in particular.

Similar work like Owolabi (2015) focused on role of tertiary institutions on human capital development and their effects on national transformation adopting ex-post facto design. The study did not however address the question of environmental quality as it relates to the establishment of tertiary educational institutions. Ali (2010) carried out a study on the socio environmental impact of the higher institution on host community which was analysed within the background of the regional and sustainable development. The study made a giant stride in examining the impacts of tertiary educational institutions on social environment of the host community, however, it was short of addressing issues of environmental quality.

Previous studies focused primarily on the economic, social and land use implications of location of tertiary institutions on the host communities with little or no emphasis to analyse the effects of tertiary institutions on housing development and environmental quality. This is a major gap in knowledge that this study seeks to cover with a view to aiding decision-making and policies on tertiary education institutions‘ students and staff housing development for the purpose of achieving coordinated and non-conflicting physical development of the host communities of tertiary educational institutions.

1.3 Research Questions

i.     How has the physical development of Anyigba town evolved between 1999 and 2019?

ii.   What is the nature of housing development in Anyigba town between 1999 and 2019?

iii. How has the establishment of KSU impacted on housing development and environmental quality of Anyigba?

iv.   In what ways has the establishment of KSU and the demand for off-campus housing accommodation   amongst   its   students   influenced   the   pattern   of   physical development of Anyigba?

1.4       Aim and Objectives

The aim of this study is to examine the impact of Kogi State University (KSU) on housing development and the environmental quality of Anyigba town with a view to determining emerging physical development challenges in the area.

Pursuant to this aim, the evolved objectives of the study are to:

i.      Assess the trend of housing development in Anyigba town between 1999 to 2019

ii.   Examine  the  relationship  between  the  establishment  of  KSU  and  housing development in the study area.

iii.      Determine   the   influence   of   off   campus   student   housing   choice   on   the environmental quality of Anyigba town.

iv.      Identify emerging physical development challenges arising from the pattern of housing development for off-campus students‘ accommodation in Anyigba town.

1.5 Scope of the Study

The subject scope of this study covered the determination of the impact or influence of the establishment of KSU on housing development and environmental quality of Anyigba town of Kogi State between 1999 and 2019. The choice of this period is informed by the fact that KSU was established in the year 1999. Particular emphasis were paid to the influence of the pattern of housing development and associated infrastructure such as roads, drainages and sanitary conditions of Anyigba amongst others since the establishment of KSU. The study focused on off-campus students‘ and staff housing development and how these affect the environmental quality of the study area. The study also investigated the extent of the provision of environmental amenities such as pipe- borne water, electricity, playgrounds, schools and health centres in the study area since the establishment of KSU.

This study covered the geographic boundaries of Anyigba town. However, the point of emphasis of the study was the location of KSU in the town. Therefore, for the purpose of comprehensiveness, the study was confined to 2km radius from the location of KSU.

1.6 Justification of the Study

Numerous researchers who had worked on effects of tertiary institutions focused on the economic, political, social and cultural impacts on the communities (DiNapoli, 2010). While doing these, emphasis on the impacts that tertiary institutions have on the housing development and environmental quality has been minimal.   This triggers idea for this research so as to fill in the gap.

More so, the findings of this research will prove extremely valuable in explaining the real factors underlying housing development and environmental quality in Anyigba. This study will demonstrate the environmental importance and information about housing development for residents of Anyigba. It will also indicate how Kogi State Government through Town Planning and Development Board and other interested parties can assist in determining the effects and trends of housing development. Finally, this study will be useful for tertiary institutions, stakeholders and government in housing development. Particularly, the study will provide useful insight into the need to provide more on- campus accommodation. The study will reveal the haphazard nature of off-campus housing   development   and   the   negative   impacts   of   such   uncontrolled   housing development on the physical and social environment of the host communities. Therefore, it will be useful for the regulatory agencies in controlling the haphazard development of off-campus housing for staff and students of tertiary education institutions in Nigeria.

1.7       The Study Area

1.7.1 Geographical attributes of Anyigba

Anyigba town is located on Latitude 7o 15‘N and Longitude 7o 32‘ E. It has an average altitude of 420 meters above mean sea level (MSL). The estimated population of Anyigba is 18,907 persons as at 2002 which has grown to 34,494 people based on a growth rate of 3.25% per annum (UNDP, 2002).   The differences in socioeconomic status as well as literacy  level  in  Anyigba  are  insignificant  in  relation  to  the  growth  of  the  town (Ifatimehin  &  Ufuah,  2006).  The  sitting  of  Kogi  State  University  in  the  town  is apparently affecting housing development and environmental quality of the town. The location of Anyigba in Nigeria is presented

1:1 Location of the study area in context.

1.7.2 Historical development of Anyigba

Oral tradition have it that Anyigba town was founded by Ame-Ohega, a grandson of the 11th  Attah of Igala whose name was Itodo Aduga some centuries ago. Ame-Ohega had seven sons (namely Aku Akpele, Akogwu Akpele, Oche, Itodo Ote, Onoja Agbagwula, Idoko  Onu Iyale and  Itodo Ogoh) with whom he found Anyigba and  its composite sections (John, 2016). As people passed-by daily, they became amazed at the level of cleanliness in that location. Later on, it was discovered that it was Anyi who does the sweeping; thus, the place became synonymous with his name. It is generally believed that Anyi is the hunter‘s name while Gba is an Igala word which means to sweep. Therefore, Anyigba is roughly translated as ‗swept by Anyi‘ (John, 2016).

Momodu (2016) reported that other legends have it that Anyigba was founded by a Anyi, one of the nine royal Igala hunters who used to settle in the forest temporarily until his hunted meats were well-smoked before leaving. In the course of time, Anyi decided to take permanent residence in Ajetachi, at the fringe of the forest. Anyi was a man who loved to keep his environment clean so he had a giant broom with which he swept his habitation every morning before proceeding to the bush for his hunting activities.

1.7.3 Weather and climate of Anyigba

Anyigba is located in the tropical region with both wet and dry climate; in terms of vegetation, it is located in the guinea savannah region, with average annual temperature of 25oC and 1600mm precipitation. The weather of Anyigba is characterised by two main seasons as obtainable in other areas of North-Central Nigeria, namely the wet season and the dry season. The rainy/wet season lasts between April and October, while the dry season is experienced between November and March. It also experiences a brief interlude between these two seasons when harmattan is experienced (usually between late November and mid-February). The average temperature of the town is between 270C and 300C. Anyigba experiences rainfall of 1150mm x 1630mm. This places the community in a vantage position in relation to agricultural practices (Ifatimehin et al. 2006)

1.7.4 Relief and drainage of Anyigba

Najib et al. (2017) noted that the topography of the study area is characterised by gently undulating slope. The main river in Anyigba is called Ofu, which is the primary source of water for majority of the households in the town. However, there are other streams that can be categorised as seasonal. Incessant erosion has created other ‗artificial gullies‘ that drains off the surface run-off (Najib et al. 2017).

1.7.5 Soil and vegetation of Anyigba

Anyigba is characterised with sandy and loamy soils. This supports farming as the major livelihood  of  the  residents  of  the  town.  The  soil  is  also  relatively  stable  and  this encourages structural development in the area. The study area is characterised by trees and grasses with sparse shrubs as found in other parts of the Guinea Savannah belt Ifatimehin et al. 2006).

1.7.6 Land-use pattern of Ayingba

Anyigba town follows organic development pattern. This may be linked to the fact that the town is a traditional town which master plan to guide its physical development has since expired. The town is navigable through a number of road networks which traverse to all the sections of the community; although, being a traditional settlement, some of the roads in the study area are too narrow for vehicular movement. The king‘s palace and the market are located at the centre of the town. There are a number of playgrounds and public/semi-public land uses in Anyigba such as health centres, police posts and schools (Tokula and Sunday, 2012).

1.7.7 Socio-economic characteristics of Ayingba

Tokula  and  Sunday  (2012)  stated  that  Anyigba  is  originally  an  Igala  community. However, with the establishment of KSU, the town has assumed a multi-ethnic status with diverse ethnic groups like Bassa-Nge, Ebira, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo inhabiting the community. Most of the old buildings in Anyigba are compound house type built with traditional building materials such as mud, wood, adobe and thatch. The modern houses,
however, are built with modern building materials. Majority of the residents are engaged in farming, hunting and trading.

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