ASSESSMENT OF SERVICE PROVISION IN SELECTED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOURHOODS OF AKURE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The effective provision of services such as primary education, health care, portable water supply, sanitation, motorable road and concrete drainage system, are key to the socio-economic development of any country. This made the agitation for service provision a recurring decimal in Nigeria. Agglomeration of human population into urban residential neighbourhoods leads to the quest for more basic utilities and facilities to commensurate with the population growth. Using survey design method, assessment of service provision (water supply, waste disposal and management as well as road and drainage system) was carried out in selected public and private residential neighbourhoods of Akure. The numbers of buildings in the selected residential neighbourhoods were determined to represent the research population. There are one thousand five hundred and fifty nine (1549) residential buildings in the selected public residential neighbourhoods and one thousand three hundred and thirty two (1332) residential buildings in the selected private residential neighbourhoods for this study. Ten percent (10%) of the buildings in both residential neighbourhoods were sampled and in each building sampled, questionnaire was administered on the head of household or respondent who is 18 years and above. This amounts to one hundred and fifty five (155) copies of questionnaires in public residential neighbourhoods and one hundred and thirty three (133) copies of questionnaires in private residential neighbourhoods. Altogether, two hundred and eighty eight (288) well structured copies of questionnaires were administered in the study area. From the field survey, comparative assessment of service provision in both neighbourhoods were carried out and Spearman Rank Correlation test was used to determine the relationship between the level of service provision and satisfaction of the inhabitants of the study area with the services provided. The study revealed amongst others that public residential neighbourhoods were more provided with essential facilities than private residential neighbourhoods. This negates the societal objectives of establishing an equitable social order. To bring about sustainable neighbourhood development across the neighbourhoods, it was recommended that equal emphasis should be placed on service provision in both neighbourhoods. This can be actualized amongst others through the: adoption of Public and Private Partnership in service provision, institutionalization and enforcement of birth control measures, continuous provision and maintenance of services/facilities by successive government, establishment of Monitoring and Maintenance Board as well as allocation of more funds for service provision. Effective implementation of these amongst others will enhance the development, habitability/livability, sustainability, serviceability and functionality of the study area.