Residential Location and Intra-urban Mobility in a Developing Country: Some Empirical Observations from Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

While rural-urban migration has been a major focus of studies in developing economies intra-city mobility has received very little attention. This article examines the locational pattern, and subsequent residential mobility, of new migrants in Benin City, Nigeria. The study shows that as a result of sentimental attachment to village of origin migrants from the adjoining rural region tend to have a bias in their city location for a sector of the city lying in the same direction with their village of origin and that this sentimental attachment reinforces the sectoral pattern of subsequent intra-urban mobility. The study observed a low rate of residential mobility, which even among those who have changed residence has not led to improvement in housing satisfaction. It also observed a pattern of out-migration from the inner zone of the city. The paper explores the policy impications of these.While the issue of rural-urban migration has been a major focus of studies in developing economies intra-city residential mobility has received little or no attention. ' The focus on rural-urban migration is understandable because of the grave consequences these movements have created both for the recipient cities, which are ill-equipped to receive these large population influxes, and the rural feeder areas on which such exoduses inflicts incalculable damages. But this concentration on rural-urban migration has for too long been at the neglect of intra-urban mobility studies which are in themselves also important for a number of reasons. Where in the towns, for instance, do these migrants settle? What are the rates and patterns of their subsequent movements within the city? An understanding of these and other related questions will not only enhance our understanding of the human urban ecology and social patterning of these cities but will also be useful in the understanding, planning and development of the urban housing market.Using data from Benin City, Nigeria, this study examines these and other related issues. Specifically, the study attempts to answer the following questions: Where, within the city, are new migrants likely to reside initially? How often do people change residence? Does this vary within the city? What, if any, is the spatial pattern of movements when people change residences within the city? Why do people move within the city? Theoretical BasisThe fast growth of most cities in developing countries in recent times has been due largely to ruralurban migration. Most of the new migrants are unskilled, un-or under-employed and consequently poor. With time however some of these migrants acquire skills, sometimes accompanied with social mobility. With or without social mobility, however, many other factors trigger off geographical mobility. As urban conditions are harsh, kinsmen and friends who act initially as hosts to the migrants are under severe pressures. Consequently, as soon as the mig- Mr. A. O. Ozo is Senior Research Fellow at

Sector-Wise Exploratory Analysis of Household Residential Location Choice in the African Context: Empirical Evidence from Benin City, Nigeria

“…For example, in China households seeking for a home are willing to pay more for reputable sectors and for areas where the quality of neighbourhood with respect to security, accessibility and convenience is high (Wang & Li, 2006). In line with this Ozo (1986) observed that new migrants in Benin City settled in the outer zone because the central city was saturated and some also are attracted to the outskirts because of the possibility of engaging in informal activities that required space e.g. car repair workshops and the opportunities for unskilled work such as causal labourers.…”

“…The decision of households to reside in a particular sector within a city could be due to socioeconomic status (de Palma et al, 2007;Zondag & Pieters, 2005;Weisbrod et al, 1980), administrative and central character (Andrew & Meen, 2006;Axhausen et al, 2004;, Sociocultural network and ethnic ties (Ozo, 1986;Owusu, 2004;Kapoor et al, 2004), environmental and neighbourhood attributes (Clarke et al, 2006;Galster & Santiago, 2006), etc. Urban residential location models (Alonso, 1964;Muth, 1969;Mills, 1967Mills, , 1972 indicate that the determinants of choice of residential location include income of the household, family size, population density, rent and cost of movement.…”

“…A plethora of studies on residential location and urban mobility in Africa cities have been published in recent decades (Ozo, 1986;Afolayan, 1982;Gbakeji & Rilwani, 2009). Empirical analysis of the household choices and decisions that help to reshape and partition the African urban landscape into clusters of ho-mogenous residential characteristics has been given little or no attention.…”

“…For these reasons and others, African scholars (Onokerhoraye, 1977;Afolayan, 1982;Sada, 1972;Ozo, 1986) have questioned the applicability of western residential location models (e.g. Alonso, 1964)-built majorly on the premise of open market system-to African cities, which present unique case study since they are rooted in a different sociocultural environment and reflect different socioeconomic values.…”

“…In African scenario, for instance, where public utilities and infrastructures are less homogenous across space and housing characteristics (as noted by Ozo (1986)) are far more heterogeneous across city sectors, household may first seek out locations with adequate and attractive infrastructures before deciding on the dwelling attribute. Apparently, any sector they prefer has similar housing characteristics within it.…”