ANALYSIS OF THE SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF RETAIL TRADE IN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

No Thumbnail Available
Date
2003
Authors
DAN, YAKUBU
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study examines the effects of changes in government policies on the evolution of the spatial structure of retailing in pharmaceutical products over a period of forty years (1966-2006) in Kaduna metropolis. Use was made of a base map of the metropolis to indicate all the drugstores (pharmacy and patent medicine stores) according to their coordinates obtained from the field by means of the Global Positioning System. A total of 430 establishments selling drugs which were thus identified consisted of 122 registered drugstores and 308 patent medicine stores. The 122 registered drugstores formed the sample population for the questionnaire administration on issues such as reasons for the choice of location of drugstore year of location, sources of drugs and government policies that facilitated entry into the drugs trade. The study revealed that the evolution of the spatial structure of retail trade in pharmaceutics in Kaduna metropolis over the study period was a concomitant of the growth of the metropolis in terms of area and population. In addition government (i) regulatory policies, (ii) macro-economic policies and (iii) land use policies greatly influence the development of the spatial pattern of drug retailing in the metropolis. The study also revealed that the spatial structure of retailing in Kaduna metropolis has evolved into a three tier hierarchy. Wholesale and registered large retail pharmacy stores occupy the top of the hierarchy and are found mainly in the central market area. Below that level, are registered retail stores located in the Government Reservation Areas (GRA), and major streets. Patent medicine stores selling only non-prescription drugs occupy the bottom of the hierarchy and are located mostly in the low income areas of the city. The observed spatial distribution of pharmaceutical stores in Kaduna metropolis conforms to the distance decay hypothesis of urban land rent theory which stipulates that land value tends to decrease with increasing distance from the city centre. The study unveiled the influence of policy dynamics as a major factor in the evolution of the spatial structure of retail trade over the forty years period, in Kaduna metropolis The knowledge of the workings of past policies which this study provides can be useful tool for future improvement of retail trade in Kaduna and similar cities.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO POST GRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
ANALYSIS,, SPATIAL,, STRUCTURE,, RETAIL,, TRADE,, PHARMACEUTICAL,, PRODUCTS,, KADUNA,, METROPOLIS,, NIGERIA
Citation
Collections