Impact of the Air Transport Sector on Economic Development in Nigeria
Chapter One
Aims and Objectives
The main aim of this thesis is to analyze the impact of air transport sector to economic development in Nigeria.
The specific objectives are:
- It involved studying how the air transport business has affected the lives of the people in the region of Lagos economically.
- to examine the importance of air transport in a region and identify main visible impacts of air transport in general and the Lagos region in particular.
- The economy of Lagos and the Murtala Muhammed Airport business activities will
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
LAGOS REGION AND MURTALA MUHAMMED AIRPORT
Lagos State is an African megacity which is located in south western Nigeria on the West Coast of Africa, within latitudes 6° 23¢N and 6°41¢N and longitudes 2°42¢E and 3°42¢E. The State is flanged from the north and east by Ogun State, in the west by the Republic of Benin and the south by the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Guinea. The total landmass of the State is about 3,345 square kilometres, which is just about 0.4% of the total land area of Nigeria. Physically it is the smallest, but the most highly populated state in the country. Lagos metropolis is occupied by about 80% of the population of the State making it the most urbanized State in the country Nigeria. According to projected population growth studies, it has been forecast that Lagos State population will reach 25 million inhabitants in the next ten years (2012), making the city the third largest in the world. As in 2006, the population of Lagos State was 17.5 million, (based on the parallel count conducted by the state during the National Census) with a growth rate of 3.2%, the state today has a population of over 21 Million making it 10 per cent of Nigeria’s population. (Iwugo, D’ Arcy & Andoh 2003) By the late 15th century Lagos Island had been settled by Yoruba fishermen and hunters, who called it Oko. The area was dominated by the kingdom of Benin, which called it Eko, from the late 16th century to the mid-19th century. The Portuguese first landed on Lagos Island in 1472 and trade developed slowly. The local obas (kings) enjoyed good relations with the Portuguese, who called the island Onim (and later Lagos) and who established a flourishing trade. It was so until the British came to the region and forced out the Portuguese to establish their colonial administration in Lagos and also took over the trade which was predominantly agricultural produce. (Encyclopaedia britannica. com 2014) Also known as “Èkó” in popular contexts, Lagos has been Nigeria’s premier city since at least 1861. Its role as distribution centre to the West African coast assured by geography, Lagos attracted Portuguese traders and had become a major centre for the slave trade by the early seventeenth century. In 1851, the British bombarded the city, seeking to expel Portuguese slave dealers, abolish the slave trade altogether, and establish legitimate trade in its place. In the process, the British set up their own colonial administration and finally annexed the city in 1861. The former city-state would soon become a bridgehead to the conquest of the territories that became Nigeria. In 1914, Lagos was named Nigeria’s political capital, retaining that status until 1991 when Abuja formally became Nigeria’s new federal capital territory. It has since remained Nigeria’s capital, except in name. (Encyclopaedia 2014) From early settlers through slave raiders to colonial officials, the city and its mainland towns had always been a place to move to in search of improved life chances, political power, better living standards, and exposure to the economic opportunities offered by the larger world. Lagos is a migrant city and can be reached by air, water and land transport. It has been growing on every side making it the fastest growing city in the country. (un.org 2014).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description. This study was carried to examine impact of air transport sector to economic development in Nigeria. Lagos state international airport forms the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain impact of air transport sector to economic development in Nigeria. 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 air transport sector to economic development in Nigeria
Summary
This study was on impact of air transport sector to economic development in Nigeria. Three objectives were raised which included: It involved studying how the air transport business has affected the lives of the people in the region of Lagos economically, to examine the importance of air transport in a region and identify main visible impacts of air transport in general and the Lagos region in particular and the economy of Lagos and the Murtala Muhammed Airport business activities will. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from Lagos state international airport. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
The air transport and its supply chain is acting as an economic catalyst through job creation and shaping the tourism industry in general. The hospitality sector thriving in Lagos is attracting several foreign direct investments (FDI) because of the air transport availability. Today, several international hotel chains are operating in Lagos and a new tourism trend has emerged, religious tourism just at the growing stage, and all is made possible due to air transport. In the light of the above, it can be said that air transport domestic and international-has great economic impact on the region of Lagos, touching lives in diverse ways
Recommendation
Besides, implementation of the recommendations made in this research project will bring more economic prosperity to the region now and in the future.
References
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