IMPACT OF SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION ON THE RESIDENTS WELLBEING IN FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY (FCT), NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Social infrastructure plays a vital role in the creation and development of healthy communities. It is seen as the backbone for every society to thrive and become habitable. Inadequate delivery and maintenance of quality social  infrastructure  at  the neighbourhood  level  constitute a serious challenge in Abuja. This study focused on impact of social infrastructure on resident’s wellbeing in  the FCT.  Distribution  pattern, physical  conditions  of existing social  infrastructures  were examined as well as their impact on resident’s wellbeing.  Quantitative method which involved the use of structured questionnaire was employed to obtain data from the households. The total of 425 households were sampled using systematic random sampling with a multi stage sampling approach in five selected districts-Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, Garki and Guzape respectively. Descriptive statistics which include percentages, spearman rank correlation and geospatial techniques including nearest neighbor analysis were employed. The results from the nearest neighbor analysis shows that social infrastructures in the study areas are adequately dispersed (z- score =7.5, p < 0.01). Spearman rank correlation was used to test the relationship between social infrastructure and residents wellbeing and the findings show that there is a statistical significant relationship between social infrastructure (rho = 0.95, p < 0.01), and residents wellbeing. The research reject null hypothesis (H1) and accept alternative hypothesis (H1). The research concludes that social infrastructure have impact on residents wellbeing. Hence, government should partner with relevant private developers and communities to harness resources, provide and maintain social infrastructure in order to improve residents wellbeing in the FCT.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                 INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

The adequate supply of social infrastructure and maintenance in the last two decades have been a subject matter of discussion at the global level, due to the drive to achieve sustainable development goals which is the aspirations of all nations (Jorgensen and Siegel, 2019). Years of economic decline and stagnated living standards have ranked the Sub Saharan Region among the poorest in the world (Calderon and Serven, 2010). The trend of infrastructure inequalities in the region is on the increase and the existing ones has not met global standards as it has been left behind in delivery and maintenance of quality infrastructures (Satterthwaite, 2017). The increase in population in the urban centre’s due to rural urban migration and search for a better life has resulted to congestion in the cities and increased their fragility, this trend has become a threat to the existing Infrastructures in the urban areas which can affect the livability of resident’s (Seto et al., 2014).

The world Bank through a study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) discovered that total world expenditures in energy, transportation, water and infrastructures from 2000 to 2030 will require up to $57 trillion (in constant 2000 US$) just to measure up to expected economic growth rates and the emerging economies constitute the highest percentage in need of additional infrastructures (OECD, 2013). The population of Africa will account for above fifty percent of the world’s population in the next two decades and this will increase the demand for services ranging from education, health care and housing facilities (Julia and Alex, 2017). Recall that the primary objective of Sustainable Development Goals SDGs is to end all forms of Poverty everywhere so as to improve the living conditions of people (Comim, 2008).

The fourth most populous city after Lagos, Kano and Ibadan is Abuja (Abubakar & Doan, 2010). More so, population within the satellite towns in the city are rapidly on the increase at about 20% per annum and this has increased the pressure on the existing infrastructures within the city Centre (Satterthwaite, 2017). Abuja is a planned modern city with supporting infrastructures for each phase with a proposed population as follows; phase (I) 20,000 phase (II) 585,000 phase (III) 640,000 and phase (IV) 1.7 million (AGIS, 2013). However, the population of Abuja has increased steadily over time since 1978 as recorded by the 2006 National Population Census, it was 113,000 in 1976 when implementation started in phase one and the city Centre, thereafter it was 378,671 in 1991 which witnessed gradual development of phase two and three and 1.4 million in 2006 where development had expanded towards phase four.

Sustained investment in social infrastructure in the region is inevitable to achieve the objectives of sustainable development which will go a long way to reduce all forms of inequalities as it will increase the production capacity and improve service delivery thereby contributing immensely to human development at large (Osagie and Dawam, 2016).

1.2       Statement of the Research Problem

Social infrastructure is the life wire of every society, this is because they form a network of platforms which enhance inclusive development and make people to interact, participate and have a sense of belonging to their immediate environment (Fekete, 2011). The social amenities provided in a community impact health and wellbeing of the resident’s as well as improve their living standards (Davern et al., 2018). Abuja has a current population estimated to be over 3 million people and population in the day gets to 7 million (Iro, 2007). It is among the sub-Saharan African cities facing chains of social infrastructural deficit which are also referred to as fragile cities because municipal authorities and their institutions are incapable or reluctant to provide basic services to urban resident’s (Muggah, 2016). The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has a population growth rate of 8.32% yearly which has placed it as one of the metropolis in Africa with rapid population increase (Myers, 2011). The swift urban population growth without urban governance structures in place that can put these challenges in check and manage the changes therein have brought the city to its current situation of inadequate supply of social infrastructures and services (Satterthwaite, 2017).

The idea of developing Abuja as the new capital city with the view to address issues of congestion and overstretching of social amenities as encountered in Lagos has not being fully implemented over the years (Adeponle, 2013). More so, the concept of a city which will create a sense of place for every Nigerian irrespective of tribe, religion or ethnicity, be a symbol of unity and the seat of power serviced with state of the art infrastructures, which will serve as a meeting point for the entire nation is yet to be fully realized (Jibril, 2006). Planning efforts over the years towards implementation of the Original Master Plan of the cities which are faced with rising population, inadequate facilities and services has become a thing of concern (Abubakar and Doan, 2010). Also, the planning authorities in the FCT have been reactive instead of being proactive as to issues regarding monitoring and implementation of physical developments in the city which has led to forceful evictions. The idea of forceful evictions and demolition of illegal settlements could not solve the problem of restoring orderliness to physical developments in the city completely rather it increased hardship and rendered a lot of the middle and low income earners homeless (COHRE and SERAC, 2006). This category of people has regrouped in other unplanned areas and are still using the available social infrastructures in the city.

The proliferation of illegal developments known as squatter settlements grew as a result of population explosion in the city and this has exerted pressure on the existing social infrastructures (Ejaro and Abubakar, 2013). In most developing countries alteration of original physical plan of a city during the course of implementation has become a trend and Abuja Master Plan is not an exception (Jibril, 2006). Nevertheless, the growth of the satellite town and suburbs are not at pal with supply of social infrastructure, and this is worrisome. Education and Health infrastructures among others constitute critical social infrastructures provided mostly by the public sector, some of the neighbourhoods in the FCT does not have adequate education facilities and where they are provided, they are characterized by poor maintenance culture which is rampart with public infrastructures (Jinadu, 2004).

Though several authors have discussed issues bordering social infrastructure provisions in the Africa such as Abubakar (2014), contemporary challenges in African new towns (Keeton and Nijhuis, 2019) among others but these issues were not narrowed down to the neighbourhood level. Also, issues of adequacy and sustainability which will bring about healthy and livable communities where people want to live and work have been neglected especially in health and education facility provisions (Ortiz et al., 2012). The pressure on the existing social infrastructures have led to increase private sector activities in order to close the gap and this will alter the land use budget of the Master Plan, leading to reclamation of open spaces and green areas for physical developments. However, the current outcome of the city has resulted to challenges of congestion and poor supply of adequate social infrastructures (Ojiako et al., 2015).

The importance of social infrastructure provisions to resident’s wellbeing cannot be exaggerated in the pursuit to realize sustainable development goals. Therefore, it is necessary for development policies in the FCT to be in line with best global best practices in the world so as to improve it’s ranking among contemporary global cities. Hence, it is against this backdrop that this study decides to carry out a study on the impact of social infrastructure on resident’s wellbeing in the FCT with the view to buttress the need to adopt better governance strategies which are in line with global practices and people oriented in order to bridge the research gaps identified and provide the basis for proper execution of policies and physical plans that will create a conducive environment for living and working in the FCT.

1.3       Research Questions

These research questions ensued from the problem statement and   will direct the study.

i.           What is the socio- economic characteristics of the resident’s?

ii.      What is the distribution pattern of social infrastructure in the FCT?

iii.     What is the current state of infrastructure in the FCT?

iv.      What is the impact of social infrastructure on resident’s wellbeing in the FCT?

1.4       Aim and Objectives of the Study

The research is aimed at examining the impact of Social infrastructure on resident’s wellbeing in the (FCT) with a view to identify areas of poor implementations and proffer solutions to meet the aspirations of urban dwellers. The following specific objectives were pursued so as to achieve this aim and answer the research questions.

The objectives of this research are to;

i.      Examine the socio-economic characteristics of the resident’s.

ii.      Examine the distribution pattern of social infrastructure in the FCT.

iii.     Assess the physical conditions of social infrastructure in the FCT.

iv.      Examine the impact of social infrastructure on resident’s wellbeing in the FCT.

1.5      Hypothesis

Null  Hypothesis:  (H0)  There  is  no  statistically  significant  relationship  between  social infrastructure and resident’s wellbeing in the FCC.

Alternative Hypothesis: (H1) There is statistically significant relationship between social infrastructure and residence wellbeing in the FCC.

1.6       Scope of the Study

The research was carried out in the Federal Capital City which includes four Phases Namely Phases I, II, III, and IV radiating outward from Phase I located at the center (Figure. 2). The master plan’s implementation concentrated on Phase I, which is now complete and includes the residential districts of Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Asokoro, and Guzape, which house the majority of the city’s elites as well as several foreign embassies, international agencies, and multinational corporations. The Phase II, was expected to accommodate about half a million people in fifteen residential districts, only the five districts of Kado, Jabi, Utako, Wuye, and Gudu/Apo are nearly fully developed (IPA, 1979).

Because of the slow pace of infrastructure construction, the rest are in various states of development. Phase III, which includes seventeen residential zones, was supposed to boost Abuja’s total population to 1.64 million people by the year 2000. (IPA, 1979). However, this dream is yet to be realized as only two districts (Gwarimpa I and Life Camp) have been fully constructed, hence this concept is yet to come true. Nbora and Lokogoma, meanwhile, are still unfinished. The study will focus on the situation in the central Abuja municipal area council (AMAC), which includes Gwagwalada, Bwari, Abaji, Kwali, Kuje, and the central Abuja municipal area council (AMAC), totaling six. where almost all the districts have experienced about 90% level of development in infrastructure to examine the impact of social infrastructures and resident’s wellbeing.

The study will concentrate mainly on two social infrastructures that are considered to be the basic needs of the urban dwellers namely; education and health facilities because they are yet to be discussed at the neighbourhood level in most areas. The research will examine socio- economic characteristics of the respondents, examine the distribution pattern of social infrastructure in the FCC, assess the condition of social infrastructure available to the resident’s and examine the impact of social infrastructure on resident’s wellbeing in the FCC.

1.7       Justification for the Study

The Abuja Master plan  was  designed  to  operate as  a sustainable  city serviced  with  social infrastructure, regulate land uses, transportation systems and other components of the city that will enable it contain the needs of its proposed population and meet the aspirations of the future generation (Obiadi et al., 2019). Originally the city was designed to house three million inhabitants with a maximum neighbourhood population of five thousand people with a primary school, dispensary and a community hall in each neighbourhood but there has been a deviation from this plan in some of the neighbourhoods (Adeponle, 2013).

Chakraborty (2011) noted that urbanization in the city without inclusive planning can result to developments of unplanned settlements known as shanty towns around the suburbs without basic social amenities provided for the resident’s. This trend over the years have increased the congestion in the city and overcrowding of basic facilities provided in phase one of the city. The last known population of the Federal Capital Territory puts it at 3, 100, 000 and this population will continue to increase (Obiadi et al., 2019). The 1999 Master Plan review conducted by the FCDA observed several distortions in the original planning document of the city mostly building without prevailing services resulted to an uncoordinated social infrastructure service provisions in the city. In order to reduce the adverse effects of the consequences of this trend, there is need to carry out further studies to examine current situation in order to avoid similar issues in the phases that are yet to fully developed.

There should be a paradigm shift from the usual method of policy implementation to a more cohesive and inclusive strategy in order to bridge the gap in the area of social infrastructure provisions to enhance resident’s wellbeing. The research will provide relevant information for policy makers on the choice of intervention that will be very effective and improve the living standards of resident’s in the resident’s. Finally, the research will establish the relationship between social infrastructure and resident’s wellbeing in the study area.

1.8       The Study Area

The Federal Capital Territory is located in the heart of the country, it stretches across 8000 square kilometers with a geographic location of latitude 70251N and 90201N of the equator and longitude 50251E and 70391E. Abuja is bounded on the north by Kaduna, on the South West by Kogi, on the West by Niger State and on the East by Nassarawa (Ojiako, et al. 2015).

1.8.1 Geographical location

The Federal Capital City is located on the Gwagwa Plains in the Federal Capital Territory’s northeastern corner as shown in figure 1.1. It is bordered on the east by the Abuja Hills and on the south by the Zango-Kuku Hills. The site for the Federal Capital City was chosen because of its central location, mild climate, small population, and political considerations. The city is crescent- shaped and has a central axis with the Nigerian government’s capital at its center. Peripheral roadways split residential areas on either side of the central region into sectors (Adeponle, 2013).

1.8.2    Population and historical background of Abuja

Abuja the Federal Capital City came into existence on 3rd  February 1976 as a result of its recommendation to the military government to be the suitable location of the seat of power because as at that time the congestion in Lagos was unbecoming. More so, it doubled as the commercial and industrial hub of the country with the major access to the sea since 1914. Hence Lagos effectively performed the dual role of State and Federal capital (Abubakar, 2014). The FCT is bounded by the states of Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and Kogi, from which it was carved out. Niger State contributed the most to the FCT, with 6,738 square kilometers (84.2%), Nasarawa 903.8 square kilometers (11.3%), and Kogi 358.2 square kilometers (4.5%) (Akingbade et al., 2012). The census conducted in 2006 put the population of the city of Abuja at 776,298 which categorized it one of the ten most populous cities in Nigeria. The United Nations opined that Abuja grew by 139.7% between 2000 and 2010, presenting it as the city with the most rapid growth in the world.

Furthermore, as of 2015, the city had had annual growth of at least 35 percent, retaining its position as Africa’s fastest-growing city and one of the world’s cities with rapid population growth. Obiadi et al. (2018) noted that Abuja as at 2016 had a metropolitan population estimated at six million persons, which placed it behind only Lagos, as the most populous metro area in Nigeria. Figure

1.2 shows the study area which is within phase one in context of the FCT.

1.8.3    Socio economic characteristics of the study area

The city’s population is extremely diverse, the native resident’s of Abuja are the Gbagyi as the dominant tribe, Gwandara, Gade, Igbira, Ganagana, Bassa, Koro etc. Agriculture food crop products such as maize grains, sorghum, millet, and cowpea are the main source of livelihood for the residents. Nonetheless, civil servants and private business owners make up the majority of today’s population. Because of the country’s ethnic and religious variety, plans have been evolved since independence to place the capital in a neutral geographical area that will accommodate all citizens, regardless of ethnic origin, and that is also relatively close to all parts of the country. The location was finally selected in the Centre of the country in the early 1970s as it indicated neutrality and national unity. In terms of administration, the (FCT) Abuja municipal has constituted six local area councils: Abaji, Bwari, Kuje, Gwagwalada, and Kwali. While Abuja city is part of the Abuja municipal area, it is governed directly by the federal capital territory administration (FCTA), which is led by a president-appointed minister (Abubakar, 2014).

1.8.4    Land use

This is the allocation of space for different developments according to the proposed percentage by planning authorities within a given geographical location. The Federal Capital Territory Master Plan document has several allocations with respect to residential, commercial, Public Facility lines, Recreational, agricultural and industrial uses accordingly (Adiukwu, 2014). According to IPA (1979) the Abuja Master Plan was designed to have basic facilities at all levels in different categories but the issues of poor implantation have led to several problems facing the city currently.

1.9       Definition of terms

1.9.1    Social infrastructure

Social infrastructure involves are referred to as the building blocks of every community, they are provided by the government and other developers alike when the need arises (Teriman et al., 2010). They include infrastructure such  as  (such  as  schools,  housing,  sanitation,  water  and  health facilities). They are the essential ingredients for the success of a modern economy, and they form part of the focus of this paper (Sun and Stewart, 2010)

1.9.2    Wellbeing

The concept of wellbeing encompasses both concepts measuring people’s subjective satisfaction with indications such as (happiness, relationships within families and with friends, relationships with coworkers, and so on) and objective indicators evaluating people’s quality of life (Rees et al., 2010).

1.9.3    Livability

Livability is the extent to which an environment best suits the adaptive abilities of species in a practical to human society (Veenhoven, 2002) it indicates the fit of institutional arrangements with human needs and capacities.

1.9.4    Sustainability

Sustainability refers to the ability of the present population to meet their needs without compromising the ability of the future generation to achieve their goals and aspirations, this has to do with the three pillars of sustainable development which include environment, economy and society (Teriman et al., 2010).

1.9.5    Urbanization

Urbanization is defined as the agglomeration of people in relatively large number at a particular location on the earth surface. It is an agent of economic development and also it is the catalyst of planning problems in contemporary cities (Agbola, 2004).

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