SPATIAL INEQUALITY IN ENVIRONMENTAL AMENITIES DISTRIBUTION IN BIDA, NIGER STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

Environmental amenities is a bundle of services that is important to individual existence, it could as well determine the wellbeing of the people. Spatial inequality in environmental amenities can undermine social and political stability due to the tensions and conflicts that they often engender. Therefore, this study examines the spatial inequality in the environmental amenities distribution in Bida, Niger State. Environment inequality in five (5) environmental amenities was assessed, the amenities are: school, water, health facilities, tarred road and open space. Both primary and secondary data were collected for the study, and the data were analysed descriptively. Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve were employed as analytical tools to measure inequality and adequacy in the fourteen wards in Bida. The study reveals that there is a high unequal distribution (0.46) in environmental amenities distribution in Bida. There is variation in inequality among the identified amenities; Public School recorded the highest inequality index of (0.59), while public primary health care and open spaces recorded an inequality index of (0.57) and (0.54) respectively. The study, therefore, concludes that the provision of environmental amenities in the study area is not a function of population or area coverage, except for water and schools. It is recommended that the provision of environmental amenities should be matched with the population, review of policy and other objective criteria to improve general wellbeing of the people.