Transnational variation in residents’ quality of life in Nigeria-benin republic border communities

This article examines residents’ quality of life (QoL) as it varies along the lines of settlement sizes in the Nigeria-Benin Republic border. Studies of this nature are hard to come by, especially in trans-border communities between two developing countries. The study aims to answer the following research questions: What are the socio-economic characteristics of residents in the study area, and how do these relate to their QoL? What is the state and spatial pattern of residents’ QoL? Data was collected through the administration of structured questionnaires. Data analysis involved the use of frequency tables, cross-tabulations, and Multi-Criteria Quality of Life Analysis. The study establishes that there is spatial heterogeneity in the socio-economic attributes of respondents. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the QoL of residents in both the Nigeria and Benin Republic border areas was poor, with the QoL of residents in the Nigeria border decreasing as city sizes grew. The study recommends that the incorporation of residents’ stated preferences, as identified in Nigeria and Benin Republic, into government development policies for the border area is crucial in improving the residents’ quality of life. Some of the highly rated preferred indicators include achieving good overall health, access to waste disposal facilities, the impact of government on border settlements, cleanliness of the area, and support from friends.Query