Security and Safety Planning in Slum Areas of Jimeta, Adamawa State, Nigeria
Pages : 134-145Download PDF
This study highlights the problems of insecurity and safety threats and their environmental implications in Jimeta, Nigeria. The aim is to study the insecurity and safety threats in the slums in Jimeta, Adamawa State of Nigeria, establishing its nature, pattern and scale so that appropriate recommendations could be advanced to address the phenomenon. The study utilized multiple data sourcing method: Personal observation, oral interview, focus group discussion, questionnaires administration, security breach records study as well as Maps study of the study area. A total of 200 questionnaires were administered to residents of the four wards sampled for the study: Rumde, Luggere, Nassarawo and Jambutu. The data were analysed using both inferential and descriptive statistics. Although most of the findings were based on primary data, references were made to the Nigerian Police Force, Adamawa State Fire Service and the Federal Road Safety Corps whose records of security breach cases were utilised. The investigations revealed that there are high rates of crime in slum affected areas of Jimeta compared to non slum affected areas: Slum areas’ crime figures are four times that of the non slum areas. The limited available police establishments and personnel were concentrated in non slum affected wards of Jimeta. The problems of the study area include limited vehicular access to many compounds, absence of designated waste collection point, absence of public conveniences, inadequate personnel for security and safety operatives, haphazard and unplanned physical development among many others. The study concludes that a significant relationship exists between slum characteristics and crime rates in Jimeta. It therefore recommends better accessibility, lighting, and better infrastructure facilities in the slums of Jimeta. Physical planning proposals were advanced for even spatial distribution of Police, Fire Service and Federal Road Safety Corps establishments.
Key Words: Security, safety, physical planning, slum, slum characteristics, Jimeta, crime, access, slum upgrading