ABSTRACT
The research project examines street trading and its significance on the livelihood of traders and the environment in Benin city. The research survey was embarked upon using the instrument of questionnaire to elicit information patterning to the activities of street trading and its significance on the study environment. However, the research is centered on communities within the local government areas that define the metropolitan part of Benin City. The research objectives were directed to examine the common mode of street trading activities in Benin City, its impact on the livelihood of the street traders, and the significance on the environment. The outcome of the result showed that 51% and 48.9% of the respondents were male and female respectively. The response from the street traders spans between the active population age group less than 18 years to 39 years of age. It is interesting to know that marital status plays no role in influencing participation in street trading activities. The research shows that 42.3% of the street traders have the secondary qualification, 26.8% have a tertiary educational qualification, those with basic primary education are 18.2%, those with no formal education were 12.7%. This finding brings to the fore that the activities of street trading can no longer be regarded as a socio-economic misdemeanor for the literate. Thus, the informal sector activity is a complex mixture of ethnic diversity as people from the different ethnic backgrounds are involved in it. The research findings also disclosed that the startup capital used for the street trading was from personal saving while a larger percentage of the street traders had to borrow money from an informal money lender. The survey also shows that the reason for their choice of street trading location was informed by some economic considerations such as proximity to the arterial road network, institutional facilities, high population threshold in the area, spill effects of the major market, and lack of market in the area. However, 42.8% of the street traders which constitute the majority attributed their choice of the location of street trading to proximity to arterial roads. Thus, street trading activities employ different modes to carry out their trading ranging from the use of body part, mat, wheelbarrow, table, temporary shades, and container. This was further categorized into two sub-groups, those that hawk their goods 32.0%, while 68.0% were stationed without having to move from the point where their structures are located.
The hypothesis tested using Pearson moment correlation depicts a weak correlation (r = 0.262) indicating that the number of days spent in a month in street trading does not have any association with the amount street traders are likely to earn. Meeting basic needs such as food, clothing, health expense, housing need, educational need, electricity bills, and transport demand with earnings from street trade the research shows a moderate agreement. In other words, street traders are not quite optimistic about their needs fully meant. While there is a level of agreement on the negative externalities of street trading on the environment. These include the problems of noise pollution, offensive odour, traffic congestion, environmental blight. From the finding, it is also observed that the activities of street trading constitute part of government income generating sources, of which a typical street trader pay about four thousand naira in a month. The findings also show that there is moderate compliance with government policy prohibiting street trading on the walkway.
