An Assessment of the Contributions of Air Transportation to Employment Opportunities and Infrastructural Development in Akwa Ibom State
CHAPTER ONE
Objective of the study
The main objective of the study is to assess the contribution of air transportation to employment opportunities and infrastructural development in Akwa Ibom state. The specific objectives are;
- To find out the contribution of air transportation to employment opportunity in Akwa Ibom state
- To find out the contribution of air transportation to infrastructure development in Akwa Ibom state
- To find out the challenges face by air transportation in economic development of Akwa ibom state
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
The historical development of air transportation infrastructure in Nigeria
The history of air transportation development in Nigeria started from the period after World War II when flights were operated by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) between Britain and her colonies in West Africa. At the end of the war in 1945, the four British colonies in West Africa- Nigeria, Gold Coast (now Ghana), Sierra Leone and Gambia (now Banjul) joined together and established the West African Airways Corporation (WAAC) with its headquarters in Lagos to continue the link between these countries and between them and Britain. (Akpogomeh, 1995). When these countries became independent (Ghana in 1957 and Nigeria in 1960), WAAC was disbanded so that these independent countries could own their own national airlines. As soon as Nigeria became independent in 1960, the Federal government of Nigeria established the Nigerian Airways Limited as the national carrier, 100 per cent owned by the Nigerian Government. Right from its inception, the Federal Government of Nigeria spent huge amounts of capital on the development of air transportation. This led to importation of improved modern aircrafts (DC-3, F27, F28 and later Dc-8, Dc-10, Boeing 707, Boeing 737 and Boeing 474) into the country. Subsequent tremendous increase in air traffic in the country were well documented during this period (Filani, 1975, Bardi, 1987, Ogunjumo (1992) and Akpoghomeh, 1995). The Nigerian Airways operated international flights to East and West Africa, parts of Europe, North America and Asia. It also enjoyed the monopoly of providing domestic air services in the country until the 1980’s when increase in demand for air transport and public complaints about the shortcomings of the Nigerian Airways forced the government to permit the participation of private airlines in domestic aviation. The National Civil Aviation Policy (NCAP) of 2001 formalized the deregulation and privatization of the aviation sector in Nigeria. Onokala (2002) noted that the civil aviation sector in Nigeria has shifted from a purely public sector of the 1970’s and 1980’s to a liberalized sector with private sector participation in airline business, in line with the global trend. In fact, the last two decades in Nigeria has witnessed an enormous expansion in both domestic and international traffic but domestic traffic predominates and jumped from 5.2 million to 8.4 million between 2001 and 2007. The situation in Nigeria is similar to what is reported at the global level where the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported world total domestic air passenger traffic of 1,249,000,000 in 2007 indicating 8 percent growth over the number for 2006 (IATA, 2008). The private airlines currently operating within Nigeria include Arik Airlines, Air Peace, Aero Contractors, Bellview Airlines, Associated Airlines, Capital Airlines, Overland Airlines, Chanchangi Airlines among others.
Chapter Three
Research methodology
Research Design
The research design adopted in this research work is the survey research design which involves the usage of self-designed questionnaire in the collection of data. Under the survey research design, primary data of this study will be collected from selected residents in Uyo in order to determine an assessment of the contributions of air transportation to employment opportunities and infrastructural development in Akwa Ibom. The design was chosen because it enables the researcher to collect data without manipulation of any variables of interest in the study. The design also provides opportunity for equal chance of participation in the study for respondents.
Population of Study
The population of study is the census of all items or a subject that possess the characteristics or that have the knowledge of the phenomenon that is being studied (Asiaka, 1991). It also means the aggregate people from which the sample is to be drawn.
Population is sometimes referred to as the universe. The population of this research study will be Seventy-five (75) selected residents in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
Sample Size and Sampling Techniques
The researcher made use of stratified sampling technique because all the members have the same probability of occurrence. The researcher narrowed down the samples to selected residents in Uyo in order to determine an assessment of the contributions of air transportation to employment opportunities and infrastructural development in Akwa Ibom.
In this study, the researcher used the [TARO YAMANE FORMULA] to determine the sample size.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
This chapter is about the analysis and presentation of data collected from the field through questionnaire. The analysis of the data with particular question immediately followed by the presentation of findings.
As mentioned in chapter three, 63 questionnaires were administered and 50 were retrieved and necessary analysis was carried out on them.
Discussion of Findings
Hypotheses testing 1
The above table indicate that 11 (22%) represents respondents who strongly agreed that there is no significant contribution of air transportation to employment opportunity in Akwa Ibom state, 35 (70%) represents respondents who agreed that there is no significant contribution of air transportation to employment opportunity in Akwa Ibom state, 1 (2%) represents respondents who strongly disagreed that there is no significant contribution of air transportation to employment opportunity in Akwa Ibom state, 3 (6%) represents respondents who disagreed that there is no significant contribution of air transportation to employment opportunity in Akwa Ibom state.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain assessment of air transportation opportunities and infrastructural development in Akwa Ibom state. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of assessment of air transportation opportunities and infrastructural development in Akwa Ibom state.
Summary
This study was on assessment of air transportation opportunities and infrastructural development in Akwa Ibom state. Three objectives were raised which included: To find out the contribution of air transportation to employment opportunity in Akwa Ibom state, to find out the contribution of air transportation to infrastructure development in Akwa Ibom state and to find out the challenges face by air transportation in economic development of Akwa ibom state. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
In conclusion, the paper shows that aviation industry plays an important role in the aspect of work and leisure to people around the globe. Helps to promote and improve quality of life, and living standards of people within the nation. All these impacts of the air transport helps to generate economic growth and poverty alleviation by providing employment opportunities, and increasing revenues from taxes. The employment opportunities would be generated through supply chain transformation from the airports. Furthermore, the paper analyses the contribution of the various areas of air transport sector through these routes; Direct, Indirect, Induced and Total % of whole economy Contribution to GDP (NGN billion).
Recommendation
The implication of this study is that a more cohesive transport policy that benefits all the sub units in the transport sector should be pursued vigorously; else development in the transport sector will plummet given the experience of Malaysia air transport disaster that nosedive recently. Also, the Federal Government should ensure that air transportation is well managed in line with best practices and high standard, accountability and transparency, guided by innovative sophisticated expertise in order to achieve results and develop the sector to international standards
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