Urban Poverty and Households Coping Strategies: a Study of Selected Neighbourhoods in Enugu Metropolis
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URBAN POVERTY AND HOUSEHOLDS COPING STRATEGIES: A STUDY OF SELECTED NEIGHBOURHOODS IN ENUGU METROPOLIS BY EZEANOLUE, Bibian Ngozi PG/PGD/07/46737 INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, ENUGU CAMPUS FEBUARY 2010 URBAN POVERTY AND HOUSEHOLDS COPING STRATEGIES: A STUDY OF SELECTED NEIGHBOURHOODS IN ENUGU METROPOLIS BY EZEANOLUE, Bibian Ngozi PG/PGD/07/46737 A PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, ENUGU CAMPUS, ENUGU, NIGERIA. FEBUARY 2010 i DECLARATION I hereby declare that this study is original and has not been submitted for any Degree or Diploma in this University or any other University or Polytechnic Bibian Ngozi Ezeanolue PG/PGD/07/46737 February 2010 ii APPROVAL PAGE This research work has been read and certified as the original work of Ezeanolue, Bibian Ngozi , Registration number: PG/PGD/O7/46737. The research work has been approved as satisfying the requirements of the Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus for the award of Postgraduate Diploma (PGD) in Development Studies. Mrs Ijeoma Forchu. Supervisor Date: Professor Okey Ibeanu Director, Institute for Development Studies University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus. Date: Professor Ikechukwu Ndolo External Examiner. Date: iii DEDICATION This research work is dedicated to my dear husband, Basil, and our children (Chinenye, Amalachukwu, Chukwudi, Uchechukwu, Chinelo and Elochukwu) for their unflinching support and cooperation throughout the period of the study. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This research work will not be complete without acknowledging those who have in one way or the other contributed to its’ success. To those erudite scholars and seasoned authors whose publications I cited and referred to, having offered deeper insight to my work, I am highly indebted to you all. I am equally indebted to all the staff of Institute for Development Studies, University of Nigeria, for their various contributions towards the success of the work. I am particularly grateful to Mrs Ijeoma Forchu (my supervisor) and Mr B.D. Umoh for his patience and ever willingness to have audience with me. I cannot forget the encouragement from my fellow students in the persons of Philip Ikponwusa, Collins Njoku, and Nma Odoemena. My gratitude goes to my dear husband Prof. B.C. Ezeanolue for his love and un-flinching support which made the work a lot easier. Finally, I give glory to God Almighty who has assembled you all to work together for my good. Bibian Ngozi Ezeanolue. February 2010 v CONTENTS Title page i Declaration page ii Approval page iii Dedication iv Acknowledgement v Contents vi List of Tables viii Abstract ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1 1.1 Background of the Study 1 1.2 Statement of Problems 3 1.3 Objectives of the Study 5 1.4 Research Questions 6 1.5 Research Hypotheses 6 1.6 Significance of the Study 6 1.7 Scope of Study 7 1.8 Brief Profile of the Study Area: Enugu 8 1.9 Limitations of the Study 9 1.10 Definition of Terms 10 1.11 Reference 12 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 13 2.1 The Concept of Poverty 13 2.2 Urban Poverty as a Type of Poverty 14 2.3 Characteristics of Urban Poverty 16 2.3 (A) Low Income and Consumption 17 2.3 (B) Insufficient Food Energy Intake 18 2.3 (C) Unsafe Environment and Poor Housing Conditions 19 2.3 (D) Limited Access to Potable Water Resources 19 2.3 (E) Low Educational Level 20 2.3 (F) Limited Access to Good Healthcare Services, and Poor Health 20 2.4 Poverty Alleviation Programs and their Impact on Households 20 2.5 Urban Households Poverty Coping Strategies 23 2.6 Reference 25 CHAPTER 3: REASERCH METHODOLOGY 27 3.1 Research Design 27 3.2 Population of Study 28 3.3 Sample of Study 29 3.4 Sampling Unit Selection 29 3.5 Sampling Selection Technique 29 3.6 Sample Size Determination 29 3.7 Method of Data Collection 30 3.8 Method of Data Presentation and Analysis 31 3.9 Hypotheses Testing Techniques 31 3.10 References 32 vi CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 33 4.1 Introduction 33 4.2 Socio/Demographic, Characteristics of Respondents 33 4.3 Economic Characteristics of Respondents 36 4.4 Households Coping Strategies Based on Gender of Head of Household 40 4.5 Relationship Between Gender of The Heads of the Households and Use of a Particular Poverty Alleviation Strategy 42 4.6 Statistical Tests of Hypotheses 44 4.7. Discussions on the Nature, Dimensions of Urban Poverty And Household Coping Strategies 49 4.8 Implications of the Use of Urban Poverty Coping Strategies on Development. 52 4.9 References 54 CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS 55 5.1 Summary 55 5.2 Recommendations 55 6: BIBLIOGRAPHY 59 7: APPENDIX I: Questionnaire 61 APPENDIX II: Computation of Analysis of Variance 66 vii LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES Figure 1.1 Location of Enugu In Map of Nigeria 9 Table 3.2 : Showing the 2006 Population Figure of Enugu North Local Government Area. 28 Table 4.1: Sex Distribution of Respondents Based on Neighbourhoods 33 Table 4.2.1 Material Status of Respondents 34 Table 4.2.2 Age Distribution of Respondents 34 Table 4.2.3 Number of Households and Persons in the Households 35 Table 4.2.4 Highest Formal Education Attainment of Respondents 35 Table 4.3.1 Primary Occupation of Respondents Based on their Residential Neighbourhoods 36 Table 4.3.2 Frequency Distribution of Respondents’ Average Household Monthly Income Amongst the three Neighbourhoods 37 Table 4.3.3 Distribution of Respondents’ Household Daily Expenditure on Feeding 37 Table 4.3.4 Information on the adequacy or Otherwise of Respondents’ Household Feeding 38 Table 4.3.5 Type of Accommodation Occupied and Toilet Facilities Installed in the Accommodation 39 Table 4.3.6 Respondents’ Major Sources of Water Supply in the Neighbourhoods 40 Table 4.4.1 Distribution of Healthcare Facilities Utilized by Respondents’ Household Members and Reasons for Choice of Place 41 Table 4.4.2 Type of School Attended by Respondents Household Members 42 Table 4.5 Showing the Distribution of Gender of Head of Household and the Frequency of Use of a Particular Poverty Coping Strategy 43 Table 4.6.1 Computation of Test Statistics using Analysis of Variance 45 Table 4.6.2 F Ratio Distribution of Calculated Data 46 Table 4.6.3 Calculation of Correlation Coefficient 47 viii ABSTRACT This paper is the outcome of a field survey on the nature and dimensions of poverty prevalent in three selected neighbourhoods within Enugu North metropolis. The study examined the strategies adopted by households in the three selected neighbourhoods in coping with urban poverty vis-à-vis the gender of each household head. Ninety households were sampled from the three neighbourhoods using purposive random sampling technique. The data obtained were analyzed using statistical tools of Analysis of Variance and Correlation Coefficient. The null hypotheses were tested with F ratio and T statistic. Findings were that indicators of poverty amongst the three neighbourhoods vary both in nature and dimension. Eighty-seven out of the ninety households used social networking to cope with urban poverty. Other strategies utilized were street hawking and livestock rearing in this order. The least strategy used to cope with the urban poverty was use of microfinance loans. Household urban poverty coping strategies adopted in each neighbourhood were influenced by the available resources and opportunities in the neighbourhood; and the gender of the head of the household. ix CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY The World Bank, on 26 August 2008, released data using, inability to earn income above US$1.25 per person per day with reference to parity purchasing power as at year 2005, as the revised international poverty line. (Ravallion & Chen, 2008). Ravallion & Chen (2008) further explained that urban poverty is “a multidimensional phenomenon that takes into consideration earned income in addition to personal security and tenure of employment, access to health and education, disempowerment as well as a dynamic condition of vulnerability and susceptibility to risks and inability to manage assets”. Poverty has serious impact on development in the sense that it creates conditions that constitute obstacles to development. Such conditions often lead to acquisition of wrong values, behaviour, and attitudes which affect interpersonal relationship, and can forestall development in the society. The growth pole/centre model of development was introduced into Nigeria by the colonial regime. This model was continued by the neo-colonial administrations and it influenced the way development in Nigerian evolved. It resulted in the dichotomy of concentrating infrastructural facilities, industries and other social amenities in the few selected centers of development (growth poles/centers) to the exclusion of other parts of the country. It was assumed that development generated in the growth centre will spread from there to the surrounding areas and gradually to the hinterland at the fullness of time (Okoye, 1992). This did not happen. Rather, it stimulated rural-urban migration due to high level of poverty in the rural areas. Its backwash effect led to the over population of the few designated urban growth centers of which Enugu is one of them. This was more so when the development generated in these growth centers failed to spread to the surrounding rural areas. Rural areas 1 became synonymous with poverty. However, the increase in rural poverty led to the corresponding increase in urban poverty such that the development efforts and activities embarked on failed to yield the expected results. Part of the theory of dual economy which stipulates that unlimited job opportunities exists in urban cities, lend credence to persistent rural-urban migration.