Industrial Disturbances in Cities: Case Study of Nigeria

Industrial Disturbances in Cities Case Study of NigeriaTHE PERCEPTION OF INDUSTRIAL DISTURBANCES IN NIGERIAN CITIES A geographical APPRAISAL OFBENIN- CITYA. 0. AtubiAbstractThe major aim of this research work is to determine the perception of industrial disturbances by Benin City residents. This refers to the disturbances created by the availability of saturnine manufacturing industries around residential atomic number 18as of the city. For this purpose, a total of 158 residents were sampled, to generate the info for this research. Multiple correlation analysis was used to test for the significance amid the perception of residents who brook close to industrial establishments and those who live far off. This revealed that 58% of residents in the study argona perceive industrial disturbance as caused by industries around their neighbourhood, going away 42% unawargon to ignorance, indifference etc. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics and chi-square test were alike used. The overall findings of this research bring to the arc the fact that a graduate(prenominal) helping of Benin-City residents are not aware of industrial disturbances.IntroductionAlthough the direct of industrialization in Nigeria is still very low, its growth rate in the upstart past has been significant. This growth rate was largely due to the availability of a large investible capital in the mid 70s (owing to oil revenues) and a growing perpetration on the part of government to planned economic growth. Industrial growth is not likely to diminish drastically because of the growing awareness of the need to develop most essential commodities locally and more(prenominal) recently the ban slammed by the Federal organisation of Nigeria on the importation of goods, which can be produced locally. Consequently, industrial intricacy is likely to continue, in spite of, or even because of the present economic depression.The industrial establishments arising from these processes are located within the framework of a low level and primate pattern of urbanization. Industries spring up in tens annually and most of these are located alongside residential areas in most state capitals and urban centres where women spend 3/4 of their time engaging in various economic activities (Uchegbu, 1998). Consequently, the few urban centres in Nigeria have tended to be the monopolistic locations of these industries. thither are now more than 3,000 industries of various categories in the country with about half of this number located in Lagos metropolis alone (Uchegbu, 1998).Perhaps, a more compelling reason for examining the mental images or perceptions people hold of the emerging industrial environment in our cities relate to one underlying assumption regarding the stance of developing countries to environmental issues. The view is widely held that a major concern and pre-occupation in most developing countries is with economic growth and development and that people are indif ferent to and place low premium on environmental quality. This attitude arises from a perception that economic growth and environmental quality are reciprocally exclusive.Environmental problems/disturbances can be in form of soil erosion, pollution, flood, deforestation, bio-diversity loss, and degradation, quarry and mining problems etc (Adedibu, 1997 Ajayi, 1997 and Odetunde et. al., 1998). Environmental degradation, in general terms, refers to the process that may act to propel the condition of a part of the earths surface of its surrounding atmosphere to become unpleasant or less useful to man (Akinyele, 2000).The inseparable environmental settings covers the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere (Olorunfemi and Jimoh, 2000). Within these spheres are a number of interactions that propelled the different types of gentlemans gentleman related activities. The term environment literally means surroundings, circumstance or influence (Ajibade, 2000).Environmental pollu tion is a diverse problem experienced all over the globe today, this experience cuts across both the developed and developing worlds. In 1985, the Polish Academic of Sciences described heavily industrialized Poland as the most polluted country in the world (Miller Jnr, 1994). Air, water, and soil are so polluted that at least 1/3 of the people risk contracting environmentally induced respiratory illnesses, and a host of other diseases.ember supplies 80% of Polands energy most of the countrys industrial and power plants have no pollution control technology whatsoever or, at least ineffective controls. Satellite photographs show that the biggest clouds of smokes in Europe hang over southern Poland, partly because large coal burning plants have shutdown their pollution control equipment to save power and money (Miller, Jnr, 1994).Adeoti (2004), stated clearly that, industry has been reckoned to contri preciselye much to environmental pollution in developed countries and much research h as been done to proffer technological solutions. So far, work on this area has been largely limited to developed countries. However, there has been change magnitude advocacy that developing countries need not follow the environmentally unfriendly development path of industrialized countries (Adeoti, 2004).Aghalino (2000), asserted that the impact of oil exploitation on the oil mineral producing communities are in three folds. First, it leads to environmental pollution. Secondly, it destroys the ecosystem and the ways of life of the people and lastly, the oil producing communities are generally underdeveloped. Jimoh (2000), made a real assertion on the interaction between man and his environment. Man is a product of the environment as the latter is also an important component in the life of the former. Thus, protecting the environment of man from destruction is inevitable. Many industrialists have viewed industrial progress and environmental protection as mutually exclusive, but Od iete (1993), advocates that industrial progress and environmental protection must be complementary rather than mutually exclusive.Although Benin City has no major processing industries such as oil refineries, iron and steel or metallurgical industries that usually contribute heavy pollution to the ecosystem, there exist nevertheless other industries like treacle and paper, aluminium, breweries, rubber processing, plastic, livestock feeds, non-alcoholic beverage etc, which generate pollutants. Some of these industries produce hoo-ha and thermal changes. Plants and heavy machines used in factories/industries make a hell of noise during their production period (Uchegbu, 1998 Ozo, 1988).Materials and Methods of StudyThe data on which the study is based were collected through questionnaire survey in 2005 from four zones to which Benin-City was divided. These are Ekenhua alley area, Ihama-Boundary road area, Oregbeni quarters of lkpoba hill, and upper Siluko road area ( suppose fig 1). 158 questionnaires were used in this study and the number of questionnaires that were administered in each sampled area depended on the population of that zone. establish on the population, 39 (thirty nine) questionnaires were administered in Ekenhuan, 39 (thirty nine) were also administered in Oregbeni quarters, while 38 (thirty eight) questionnaires were administered in upper Siloko area. In the course of the administration of the questionnaires, the streets and houses were chosen victimisation the systematic sampling techniques. Two questionnaires were used in every eight houses in each street. Responses from the questionnaires were used for data analysis.Averaging model and percentages were used to summarise the data while triplex correlation was used to determine the individual and overall contributions of industrial disturbances in the study area. The analysis of variance was used to examine the division in industrial perceptions while the chi-square test was used for test ing whether the variables are independent or related.Study AreaBenin City plays a dual cash in ones chips of being the capital of Edo State and the headquarter of Oredo Local Government Area. The 1991 census puts the total population of Benin City at 762,717. It lies approximately between latitude 616N and 633 North of the equator and longitude 53lE and 545 East of the prime meridian. It covers an area of l,2158q.km. Benin City is bounded to the marriage and west by ovia North East Local Government Area, to the North East by Uhunrnwode Local Government Area, to the East by Oriohwon Local Government Area and to the South by Ugbenu village in Delta State (see fig.2)FIG 1 MAP OF EDO STATE SHOWING STUDY AREA blood line Ministry of Journal of Cartography and G.I.S, (2002)FIG 2 MAP SHOWING BENIN CITY IN EDO STATEDiscussion of Results and FindingsTable 1 Educational attitudeSource Fieldwork, 2005A megre 30.4% of the total respondents are equipped with tertiary education as against a maj ority of 55.1% of respondents who posses lone(prenominal) secondary education. This to a large extent, brings to fore the low level of education in Benin City and in third world countries in general.Table 2 Reponses to listed disturbanceSource Fieldwork, 2005Key1 = Very Serious2 = Slightly Serious3 = Not SeriousFrom table 2, only columns I and 2 are relevant for this analysis. This is because these are the respondents that perceive some level of well(p)ness associated with the industrial disturbances they experience in their area. The responses from column 3 is however not relevant because these respondents do not hand the disturbances as serious and as such do not see the disturbances as posing any danger to human and animal life and to the ecosystem in general.In order to ascertain whether the variables are independent or related, the chi-square test was applied. A calculated grade of 34.7 and a table value of 26.30 was obtained. This implies that, the industrial disturbances in the study area is significant enough to attract attention. This also shows that there is a significant difference between those who perceive industrial disturbances and those who do not, in Benin City.Table 3 Awareness status from each areaSource Fieldwork, 2005A good number of respondents in the different study locations were aware of the disturbances make up by heavy industries. Others were totally unaware. The combination of the respondents who are not aware and indifferent to industrial disturbance shows that a larger proportion of the respondents are unspiritual of industrial disturbances.To re-assess the respondents premium placed on environmental quality, the question Do you consider the environmental impact of your daily activity was asked. The responses are tabulated below in table 3.Table 4 Premium placed on Environmental qualitySource Fieldwork, 2005The above analysis clearly shows that the majorities, stand for 87.38% of the total respondents, do not consider the e nvironment in their daily activities. One of the research hypotheses, which states that there is no significant difference in perceptions between residents who are aware of industrial disturbances and those who are not aware is tested with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical technique. Since the table value of 19.4 is less than the calculated value of 665.78, the null hypothesis is rejected. The alternative hypothesis which states that there is a significant difference in perception between residents who are aware of industrial disturbances and those who are not is thus accepted. This implies that there is a significant variability between those who perceive industrial disturbances and those who do not, between and within each area. (See Appendix A for all necessary computations).Table 5 Magnitude of disturbance Area-by-areaSource Fieldwork, 2005Here, only residents who perceive the problem as very serious and slightly serious was considered. This is so because, those who d o not perceive the disturbances are not relevant in determining the correlation.Table 6 Perceived Industrial disturbances and data for multiple correlation analysisSource Fieldwork, 2005Appendix B contains details of the correlation among the four variables. The relationship between the variables is 0.024 (see Appendix B for all necessary computations). The percentage variation of perception of industrial disturbances in the different areas of the study area is 58%. This implies that 58% of the residents in Benin-City perceive industrial disturbance as caused by industries around their neighbourhood, leaving 32% unaware to ignorance, indifference and other reasons.Policy Implications/RecommendationsLaws and policies guiding land use should be formulated. This should be done to specific areas of the city or town, which is meant for different uses. Areas for residential, commercial, industrial, administrative recreational, etc. purposes should be well spelt out. Also, such laws should he reviewed periodically to meet up the dynamic nature of human society. Where laws guiding the pattern of the land use in a state, town or city exist they should he effectively implemented and enforced to see that the aim of formulating such laws are achieved. We have a society today where the majority is lawless and as such indiscipline prevails.Environmental Auditing, sometimes called military position impact Assessment should be carried out on industries from time to time to make sure that they comply with the environmental safety rules. It should be done peculiarly For industries, which are located around residential areas. This is to check environmental degradation.Both residents and industrialists should be properly enlightened citizens who wish to develop residential houses should be educated properly in order not to site the building in an industrial layout or close by. Also, industrialists should be oriented on how to keep their factories only to the laid-out areas for industrial purposes in order to avoid future environmental problems.ConclusionThis study has x-rayed the perceptions of Benin-City residents towards industrial disturbances. This was evident, as areas, which were delimited for residential purpose have been enveloped by industries and vice versa. This study has also enumerated some of the disturbances caused by industries and suggested possible ways of averting and possibly correcting the ugly trend.ReferencesAdedibu, A. A. (1997). Trends in environmental management of drainage, sewage and significant waste in Kware State. A Paper presented at a workshop organized by Kwara State environmental protection agency. Ilorin.Agahlino, 5. 0 (2000). Troleum exploration and environmental degradation in Nigeria. In Jimoh, H. I. And Ifabiyi, I. P. (Eds) contemporary issues in environmental studies, Ilorin Haytee Press and publishing Co. 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Enugu Precision Printers and Publishers.Appendix AAnalysis of Variance (ANOVA) CalculationsSum of squares within and between groupsSSW=26+266+416+290.67SSW=998.67SSb=Ekenhaun=3(13-13.2)2 = 0.12Ihama/ confines=3-13.2Oregbeni =3(14-13.2) = 1.92Upper Siluko=3(12.3-13.2)=0.75Means sum of squares within (MSW)MSW=SSWN-MMSW=998.67=998.6712-39=110.9111MSb=SSbM-1MSb=2.91=2.91=1.4533-12=1.5F ratio=Greater variance count onLesser variance estimate=998.67=665.781.5Calculated value=665.78ANOVA TABLEAPPENDIX BMultiple Correlation Calculationsr11=1.00Suggestin g a perfect correlationr12=-0.268Suggesting a negative correlationr13=-0.084Suggesting also a negative correlationr14=0.01Suggesting a positive but weak correlationr22=1.00Suggesting a perfect correlationr23=0.38Suggesting a positive correlationr24=0.651Suggesting a positive and strong correlationr34=0.668Suggesting a positive and strong correlationr44=1.00Suggesting a perfect correlation