International Journal of Human Capital in Urban Management

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Traffic congestion, a prevalent global issue, has entrenched itself as a persistent problem, posing substantial challenges for residents and commuters, especially in developing nations. This study addresses this concern by delving into the intensity, patterns, and traffic characteristics within selected road corridors in the Abeokuta metropolis, Nigeria.
METHODS: Data on road types and land use were systematically gathered through structured observations using a pre-designed checklist. Traffic counts were conducted to capture characteristics during the morning and evening peak periods. Traffic volume and capacity were measured in "vehicles per hour" (vph) and Passenger Car Units per hour (PCU/hr). To analyze the data, a chi-square test was used to examine differences in traffic volume between the peak hours, while Analysis of Variance  was applied to assess variations in traffic composition across the studied road corridors.
FINDINGS: The study's findings spotlight Sapo-Ijaye-Iyana Mortuary, recording the highest daily peak traffic volume at 2315 vph, with cars dominating at 4444 vph. Buses emerged as the most impactful vehicle class, influencing 4872 PCU/hr. The Chi-square test indicates no significant differences in vph between morning and evening peaks (x=0.822604; p=0.84405). Correspondingly, Analysis of Variance results (f=3.3106; p=1.0000) suggest that traffic composition did not significantly differ across the surveyed roads.
CONCLUSION:  Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended to enhance road capacities by upgrading infrastructure to accommodate both current and future transportation needs. Additionally, the development of alternative traffic routes, such as rail lines, is suggested to ease the movement of heavy-duty trucks and reduce road congestion. The adoption of intelligent transportation systems is also encouraged to improve traffic management and optimize transportation efficiency.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Street children are a global phenomenon affecting urban areas with varying degrees of severity. These vulnerable children face significant challenges, including the lack of basic rights, educational opportunities, and social integration. Substance use compounds their difficulties, often serving as a coping mechanism in their harsh environment. While existing research has predominantly focused on substance use among street children in Asia and Latin America, there is a notable gap in understanding within the African context, particularly in Nigeria. This study aims to address this gap by investigating substance usage patterns among street children in Nigeria. The objective is to inform the development of targeted interventions and policies to support street children better and address the underlying causes of substance use in their communities.
METHODS: Accidental sampling was utilized to recruit 384 street children from nine Data Delineated Areas in three selected cities. Data collection involved the administration of interviewer-administered questionnaires, which gathered information on socio-economic characteristics, substance knowledge, and usage among street children. The collected data underwent analysis using frequency counts, chi-square tests, and binomial logistic regression.
FINDINGS: The study found that the predominant substances used by street children were alcohol (60%), nicotine (40%), and cannabis (35%). Although addiction evidence was limited, the prevalence of multiple drug and substance use was notable. The binomial logistic regression results indicated that certain demographic and situational factors were associated with a decreased likelihood of drug use among street children. Specifically, children aged 4 to 10 years (90%, P = 0.000), females (80%, P = 0.000), school attendees (70%, P = 0.000), those spending fewer than 8 hours on the street (60%, P = 0.000), those sleeping at home (70%, P = 0.000), and those from relatively stable families (60%, P = 0.0001) were less likely to engage in drug use.
CONCLUSION: The study underscores the importance of adopting a holistic approach to address substance use among street children. By aligning urban and regional planning with general recommendations, policymakers can address the interconnected social, economic, physical planning, and educational factors contributing to substance use. Through targeted interventions and policies, stakeholders can provide effective support to street children and mitigate substance use within their communities, ultimately improving their well-being and prospects for the future.

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Against the background of the growing awareness of the need to provide empirical answers to the fundamental questions of the location of human activities, the construction of social space and the relationship between social space and physical environment, this study examines the locational implications of child streetism in selected urban centres in South-western Nigeria.
METHODS:Using simple random sampling, 45 locations were drawn from the three urban centres for the purpose of data collection. The required data was collected through the instrumentation of head count and analysed using Relative Incidence of Street Children (RISC) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA).
FINDINGS: The results of RISC show that Oja-oba Central Mosque, Ibadan (247), Gbagi-Dugbe Market, Ibadan and Gbagi-Dugbe Motor Park, Ibadan generated highest incidence of street children. However, the results of HCA show that the problem of child streetism is most severe in Oja-oba Market (Akure); Igbona Market (Osogbo); Oja-oba Central Mosque (Ibadan).
CONCLUSION: The study concludes that incidence of street children is greatly influenced by social, economic and physical attributes of locations. The study recommends physical planning measures to combat the menace of child streetism.