Evaluation of Urban Deprivation of Basic Services in Abeokuta Metropolis, Nigeria.
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study evaluates the spatial dimensions of urban service deprivation and resident satisfaction across the Abeokuta Metropolis, Nigeria. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, data were gathered from 300 households across stratified neighbourhood units in Abeokuta North and South Local Government Areas. Urban service quality was measured using an Urban Service Deprivation Index (USDI) that integrated six functional indicators: water supply, electricity, waste management, drainage, healthcare, and road networks. Findings reveal a significant Infrastructure-Social Imbalance, where physical utilities underperform relative to social services. Electricity and road networks emerged as the most deprived sectors, with over 51% of respondents receiving fewer than four hours of daily power supply. A distinct Spatial Inequality Gap was identified, with Abeokuta North (Mean USDI: 3.90) exhibiting significantly higher levels of deprivation and dissatisfaction than the administrative core of Abeokuta South (Mean USDI: 3.44). Furthermore, a Chi-square (χ2) test (p<0.05) indicated a strong correlation between household income and service adequacy. Higher-income households utilised private capital for compensatory infrastructure, such as boreholes and generators, to circumvent public utility failures, whereas low-income families in peripheral areas like Mokola faced multidimensional deprivation. The study concludes that urban deprivation in Abeokuta is a function of both geographic location and socioeconomic status. Grounded in Systems Theory, the results emphasise the need for localised, performance-based urban planning and integrated infrastructure management to bridge the growing service-delivery gap between the metropolitan core and its underserved fringes. Based on these findings, the study recommends targeted infrastructure improvement in underserved areas, particularly in drainage, waste management, and road networks; the adoption of integrated service management approaches; and the use of data-driven planning tools such as the USDI to guide equitable resource allocation across Local Government Areas.
Institution: Lead City University
Language: English
Subfield: Urban Studies
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7161007256