Impact of Urbanization on Environmental Health Quality
CHAPTER ONE
Objectives Of Study
The aim of this research is to examine the impact of rapid urbanization on sustainable environmental health in Calabar
The objectives of the study are:
- Find out what is responsible for the rapid urbanization of environmental health in Calabar
- Evaluate the impact of rapid urbanization on environmental health in Calabar.
- Profile infrastructural facilities and services available (health, education, transportation etc), the state of utilization and challenges.
- Proffer possible recommendations to the study.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
This chapter reviews relevant literature and theories on urbanization, environmental health and sustainable development. It will also examine the history of rapid urbanization rise in the city of Calabar and certain governmental efforts to curb the phenomenon.
Urbanization
Urbanization is the way and manner in which cities and towns grow and develop. It also involves movement of people from rural to urban areas, as well as movement between cities and the attendance growth as well as development of urban social, political and economic systems (Kurfi, 2010).
The dynamism of this movement is largely fuelled by economic factors. Increased productivity (mainly Agricultural and other natural resources) needs to be sustained by the development in urban areas, while the urban areas in turn develop due to establishment of industrial activities (and importation) to serve the rural populace. Production of raw materials in rural areas encourages these industries to process and produce finished/semi finished goods for local consumption as well as export. Of course the food crops of rural areas are needed to feed the urban population. With increased mechanization of agriculture and development of industries (and so job opportunities in cities), the world is becoming increasingly more urban.
Statistics have indicated that as at the turn of the century almost half of the world’s population (47%) lives in cities and this figure is ever increasing, with a forecast that by 2030 the world average will be up to 60%. The balance of these is tilted towards more developed countries which had about 76% in 2000 with the less developed countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America being about 37-38% (Kurfi, 2010).
This picture coupled with the growing trend is an indication that the issue of urbanization poses serious challenges especially if the world is to achieve sustainable development for the betterment of present and future generations.
Historical Factors of Urbanization in Nigeria
Urbanization is generally a product of economic, social and political phenomena. The circumstances under which cities grow and develop in different countries change under different circumstances. In Nigeria these patterns can be categorized into basically three groups representing periods in the political history of the country as follows:-
Urbanization in Colonial Period
Mobogunje has categorized the colonial cities into three based on the method of their development as follows:
- Those established by colonial administration with large part of the population being indigenous.
- Traditional city which had new suburbs for foreigners added.
- “Settler” cities similar to European cities but with shanty towns developing around them.
Whatever the case, the purpose of these cities was for convenience of administering the hinterland and also to have major economic centre of collection of raw material as well as distribution of imported consumer goods. This gave rise to port cities in most of the colonized countries. The case of Lagos is a clear example of this phenomenon.
Another factor common to all the colonial cities is the springing up of neighboring shanty towns of under privileged and disadvantaged local population that provides cheap unskilled labor for the higher class residents in the planned cities.
The effect of trade and administrative control of the hinter land dictated modes; structure and network of transport. The railways were developed to facilitate movement of export goods and distribution of imported items. Most of the cities thus had in addition to the settlement mentioned above, an area for the deports of the major trading companies such as U. A. C., G. G. O., etc.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This chapter will examine materials and procedures employed to collect and analyze data in order to achieve objective inferences
Materials
- Two land sat ETM (30M resolution) satellite data images covering Calabar settlement for the years 2001 and 2011. They will be obtained from a Global Land Cover Facility: University of Maryland, USA
- GIS software (ERDAS IMAGNE 8.6) was used for data processing and analysis.
- Census data, migration and sentinel surveys and demographic Data from National Population Commission (NPC)
- Enumeration reports and baseline data reports from the Millennium Development Goals, Project support unit and the department of Urban and Regional planning, FCDA.
- Field observations and questionnaire
Data Collection
Utilizing Satellite Imagery
Using the satellite imagery for the years2001 and 2011data will be collected for built up land cover change detection analysis. Data to be collected will include:
Area coverage of land cover types -Categories of land cover types -Rate of change of built-up area
Analysis of all these data will be used in evaluating spatial and temporal changes that have occurred within the time frame chosen. This will enable the evaluation of the impact of rapid urbanization on the Calabar environment.
Questionnaire
Questionnaire was employed for gathering requisite data
The questionnaire is a major tool for gathering data and it was divided into 2 sections:
Section one will cover demographic data of the respondents; section two will provide information on housing, socio-economic infrastructure facilities available, the impact of population increase on sustainable living and known measures in place to curb the rise in urban slums and the role of government.
Questionnaire administration was by stratified random sampling relative to the residential status of the residents. The first strata will include respondents residing within permanent structures, while the second strata will include respondents of semi-permanent/makeshift residential status. 35 questionnaires each was administered in each of the six zones in Calabar; 20 of the questionnaires were administered to residents residing in permanent structures while 15 to those residing within semi-permanent/makeshift structures.
A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed out of which a total of 148 were recovered.
Sampling Method
Sampling method will be employed in order to collect population data relative to demography, housing, socio-economic and infrastructural facilities; so as to profile infrastructural facilities and services available (health, education, transportation etc), the state of utilization and challenges and also to find out what is responsible for the rapid urbanization of Calabar.
The stratified random sampling will be most appropriate for this study; this is in order to have a higher statistical precision compared to simple random sampling. This also requires a small sample size which can save a lot of time money and effort. The population of the study will be stratified according to residential status. Statistically, recommended sampling size is a minimum of 5% of the total sample population which will be over a thousand sample population. Sampling a population of this magnitude will require high manpower and financial input and cannot be handled within the realms of this project; hence, as recommended by Meekyah (1992), a sampling size of 200 was employed for this research.
CHAPTER FOUR
RESULT PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION
The basis of the analysis carried out in the chapter is formed from the objectives of this research. The results are presented in the form of theoretical analysis, statistical tables, map and charts.
The results include the Nigerian census data for 1991 and 2006 of Calabar (both sexes), Theoretical analysis of the Calabar enumeration exercise for the relocation of Calabar labour camp as part of its Urban renewal procedure, a profile of the health and educational facilities in Calabar and their location. Data obtained from questionnaire was also statistically analyzed for population data relative to demography, housing, social, economic and infrastructural facilities and analysis of change detection of land cover types was carried out from the 2 satellite data images of Calabar.
Questionnaire Analysis
Questionnaires were distributed among respondents residing within Calabar in order to find out what is responsible for the rapid urbanization of Calabar and evaluate its impact.
The questionnaire was divided into 2 sections: Section one covered demographic data of the respondents while section two provided information on housing, socio-economic infrastructure facilities available, the impact of population increase on sustainable living and known measures in place to curb the rise in urban slums and the role of government.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The aim of the research study was to examine the impact of rapid urbanization on the sustainable development of Calabar, Calabar. Both primary and secondary data were analyzed in order to achieve objective inferences.
Questionnaires were employed in order to obtain population data relative to demography, housing, socio-economic and infrastructural facilities available, their state of utilization and challenges.200 questionnaires were given out to respondents living in Calabar of which 148 were recovered.
Secondary data used in the research study include:
- Two land sat ETM (30M resolution) satellite data images covering the Calabar and focusing on Calabar settlement for the years 2001 and 2011 which were analyzed for change detection based on the following categories: -Area coverage of land cover types -Categories of land cover types -Rate of change of built-up area
- Millennium Development Goals Baseline Data Report and Urban and Regional Planning Department Enumeration reports on Calabar.
- Nigeria census data of 1991 and 2006 will be analyzed for comparative population data analysis.
- The Calabar master plan as prepared by the Urban and Regional Planning Department of FCDA.
- Health and educational facilities data obtained from the Department Of Fiscal Policy And Implementation, FCDA and FCDA Health Services Department.
From the result of the studies, the following observations were made.
- There has been a steady rise in the population documented by the national population commission. This rise has led to a high rate of population change (72.03%) with an annual growth rate of 14.6% The Calabar master plan has been fully implemented, but has undergone several violations owning to increase in population over the last two decades. In this regard the CALABAR administration is considering a report which proposes complete demolition and relocation of Calabar labour camp.
- There are eleven (11) fully registered hospitals that serve the populace of Calabar, including the Calabar general hospital. From the response obtained from the questionnaire over 60% of respondents attend to their primary medical care in Calabar. This lead to the conclusion that primary healthcare facilities are basically adequate though there is the need to improve on secondary health care.
- Sixteen (16) educational facilities are located in Calabar, nine (9) of which teach up to secondary education level. 50% of respondents who are with children have them attending school at Calabar .
- Considerable change has taken place in the land use of Calabar within the last decade, with the highest rate of change occurring within the transition and new development (bare ground) land category with a percentage rate of change of 26.28%.
- As evident from the response of the questionnaires received from respondents, over 50% of respondents are aged between 20 – 30years (youths) with over 72% of this population migrating to Calabar within the last decade. A greater percentage of this population (34%) moved to Calabar without any concrete evidence of earning a living (family reasons).
This phenomenon will have a negative effect on all aspects of sustainable living within Calabar.
The results of the questionnaires also indicate that of the 60% of respondents living within permanent structures analyzed only 17.5% are owner occupier within their residence. Results also indicate the level of inadequacy of waste management facilities and its administration within the metropolis; access to electric power supply and the World Wide Web which enhance sustainable living are also at very low percentages.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It is evident from conclusions drawn, owing to this research process that urban and regional planning and maintenance processes have not been updated to take the current population boom experienced in Calabar,(especially within the last decade), into cognizance. The following recommendations are proffered as a road map to sustainable development of Calabar. In its bid for the urban renewal of Calabar, the government of the CALABAR should not demolish the entire labour camp; rather CALABARA Administration, the departments of Fiscal Planning, Department of Development Control, Urban and Regional Planning department (FCDA), National Population Commission and Calabar Geographical Information Systems (AGIS); should work in conjunction to design and implement an urban renewal plan that will address the challenges of adequate roads, pipe borne water, waste management facilities, green areas and environmental checks such as storm drainage and access for firefighting equipments.
This plan should also check and correct all violations evident in the mushrooming of semi- permanent structures around the Calabar environs.
While there seems to be an adequacy of educational facilities within Calabar and its environs, there is the need for at least one more government run secondary healthcare facility to cater for the populace.
Waste management seems to be a major concern, as is evident from physical observations and respondent data from the questionnaires, (77.7% of respondents do not have access to waste management facilities, while 62.83% of these respondent either keep it for touts to collect or throw it on the streets). All sorts of waste when disposed of without recourse to the environment, not only poses a danger for it, but also to safety and health of the living population.
Waste separations should be easy to practice with the proper government policy in place.
The government through the AEPB should then sensitize the populaces and the relevant officials should be on site to implement and enforce the policy.
Incineration is also another method of waste management that could also be used to generate power. The government should then provide sufficient landfill and waste management facilities to implement proper disposal.
Government of the CALABAR should also create and sustain a land policy that will address the issue of housing for the lower income earners and squatters, towards the outskirts of Calabar.
This policy could be implemented, using incentives. When implemented it will not only solve the overpopulation issue of Calabar but also provide much needed revenue for the Federal Capital Territory.
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