E3 Journal of Environmental Research and Management

E3 Journal of Environmental Research and Management Vol. 10 (1) pp. 001-004, August 2019; © E3 Journals; ISSN 2141-7466

Assessment of physical environmental factors influencing residential area preference in Otukpo town, Benue state- Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the social factors that influence residential area preference in Otukpo town of Benue State, Nigeria. Variables considered based on households΄ characteristics and used for the study include: sex, age, marital status, household size, educational level, the safety of neighborhoods, and availability of school, power supply, water supply and public transport. Three sampling techniques were employed for the study. First stratified sampling technique was used to stratify the study area into eleven (11) residential areas; secondly, systematic random sampling was used in which one household head was selected based on the skipping ratio of four (4) per interval. A total of 400 households were selected and administered questionnaire, but 386 households returned their questionnaire. The data collected for this study were analyzed using factor analysis because of its ability to reduce large variables to manageable factors. Using factor analysis based on Kaiser Principle, two factors were extracted using the variable maximization method with Eigen -values of 8.76, and percentage contributory variance of 79.614%. These social factors include sex (.947), educational level (.947), marital status (.919), occupation (.906), safety of neighborhood (.942), power supply (.829), availability of school (.918), water supply (.940) and public transport (.685). The study revealed a positive relationship between the factors and shows the extent to which these factors strongly influence residential area preference in Otukpo town some significant parameters that define the factors which explain the social variation in residential area preference in Otukpo town. The study therefore concludes that residents΄ locate in the study area where urban infrastructures are accessible, available and functional. The study therefore, recommends that basic residential infrastructures such as pipe-borne water, electricity, shopping centers and schools are either not available or are in a state of disrepair. The relevant authorities are, therefore, urged to build new ones and rehabilitate existing residential infrastructures to make the residential areas more attractive and conducive to healthy living. State and local government authorities should intensify the security network of their residential areas since individual efforts have proved less effective by positioning security personnel in strategic locations in the study area.

Keywords: Residential Residential Area Preference, Social Factors, Otukpo town, Benue State.