ASSESSMENT OF LIVELIHOOD IMPACT OF STREET TRADING IN BIDANIGER STATE

Abstract

Rapid population growth and the urbanization of poverty and unemployment have engendered the global growth in informal economic activities, including street trading. However, despite the livelihood advantages of street trade, several existing studies have focused on the adverse effects of the practice, thus tilting policies towards anti-street trading. Therefore, the livelihood impacts of street trading have been under-explored. This study fills this identified research gap. This study aimed at assessing the livelihood impacts of street trading in Bida with a view to determining the livelihood security of the traders and the objectives were to appraise the socio-demographic characteristics of street traders in the study area; examine the economic characteristics and nature of street trading; assess the spatial characteristics of street traders; evaluate the livelihood effects of street trading; and establish the relationship between participation in street trading and livelihood improvement. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study. Primary sources and methods of data collection were used. Purposive sampling was used to administer structured questionnaire on 420 street traders in the study area; while descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyse the data collected with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences. It was found that street trading was dominated by the active labour force irrespective of the socioeconomic attributed of the traders. It was also found that access to formal support was considerably low among the street traders; although there was a statistically significant relationship between initial and current financial capital of the traders (X 2 = 4728.563, p = <.0005, df = 750). Furthermore, street traders experienced tenure insecurity of their trading spaces on the one hand, and inadequate trading spaces on the other. In addition, it was found that the length of participation in the trade was a significant determinant of livelihood asset accumulation (R = .811; df = 26; p = <.005), livelihood diversification (X 2 = 35.097; df = 15; <.005) and business expansion (X 2 = 117.967; df = 15; <.005). The study therefore recommends provision of adequate organized and secure trading spaces for the traders; provision of formal support and enlightenment on livelihood diversification. The study concludes that street trade is a viable livelihood strategy whose formalization can reduce poverty and unemployment.