ANALYSIS OF THE SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF RETAIL TRADE IN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
ANALYSIS OF THE SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF RETAIL TRADE IN PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, NIGERIA
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Date
2003
Authors
DAN, YAKUBU
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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