Distributional Analysis and Access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Shops in Residential Neighborhoods of Birnin Kebbi Metropolis, Nigeria: Implications for Informal Land Use Planning

Abstract

In Nigeria, fresh fruits and vegetable shops (FFAVS) belong to the informal land use category with a gap of poor spatial and administrative management. Due to these lapses, Nigeria cities, particularly Birnin Kebbi, have been unable to standardize and maximize the operations of these shops—for the achievement of access, nutritional quality, and spatial balance. Using desk studies, spatial data, questionnaire administration and personal communication with food marketers, residents, and other stakeholders in different neighborhoods of Birnin Kebbi Metropolis, it was discovered that, due to petty buying informed patronage, there are more FFAVS in the high-density areas compared to medium and low. Despite this, only about 5% of the residents can access FFAVS within a 5–10 min’ walk—thereby informing exclusion. With X² = 124.20, p = 0.03; there is a relationship between the type of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed by residents and those available in the FFAVS. However, about 75% of the respondents reported that goods obtained from the FFAVs, which are relatively expensive, would have at the time of purchase reduced in appearance. Unfortunately, products in FFAVs stands, even informal grocery stores, are not evaluated for safety by the Community Health Department of the metropolitan government. This paper, therefore, among others, recommends the establishment of a multidisciplinary department for the management of the location, activities, and operations of the FFAVS in the metropolis.