Infrastructure development and socioeconomic wellbeing in Abia State: Evidence from the Alex Otti administration (Published)
Infrastructure and socioeconomic development are basic means through which the state enhances macro and micro economic wellbeing of both the state and citizens. The study aimed to find out how the infrastructure and socioeconomic development under the Alex Otti-led administration in Abia State improved the wellbeing of the citizens. The study adopted a survey design research method. Questionnaire method of data collection was selected to elicit information from a purposive sample size of 200 respondents. Copies of questionnaire were distributed to the residents of the selected LGAs comprising two urban LGAs and two rural LGAs. The study was anchored on infrastructure development theory as espoused by Agenor (2010). 200 copies of questionnaire were distributed to the respondent but 187, representing 93.5% was validly returned. Data analysis was done with the aid of descriptive statistics. The study revealed that though higher per cent of respondents A and SA vis-à-vis indicators of citizens’ wellbeing (showing evidence of socioeconomic wellbeing of citizens following infrastructure and socioeconomic development in the state), there are indications that issues such as security, social inclusion, high cost of housing and some bad rural roads pose significant threat to citizens wellbeing. Based on the findings, the study recommended inter alia; the state should device a means of increasing security presence with modern technology in the state; government should intervene in the high cost of housing especially in the urban areas by engaging house owners, subsidizing cost of building materials as well as intervening through Public Private Partnerships; road construction and maintenance should be extended to the hinterlands to enable the rural dwellers operate with less transportation hitches. In conclusion, there is robust evidence that citizens’ wellbeing improved following the infrastructure and socioeconomic development under Otti-led
Keywords: Administration, Development, Infrastructure, Socioeconomic, wellbeing
Capacity Building for Disaster Management: A Case of Pakistan (Published)
Disaster management is a nucleus for mitigating negative impacts of natural hazards. Its success or failure depends upon application of institutional frameworks, infrastructure development, and human and technical resources. Community participation in supporting government authorities to handle disaster-induced crises, is essential, too. It is an enhanced capacity building that provides an opportunity to Disaster Management Authorities to do collaborative decision-making for tackling natural disasters. Capacity building ensures strengthening of disaster management activities with a collective spirit of skilled force. Thus, almost all functions are placed under special control of Disaster Management Authorities which usher in an integrated adaptation of administrative activity with a shared purpose to address natural disasters. This article investigates existing capacity building for disaster management and inherent challenges, such as, insufficient infrastructure, fragmented governance, and limited resources, in Pakistan. Using capacity development theory for disaster management with qualitative methods and a descriptive research design coupled with analytical and explanatory aspects, this article analysed secondary and primary data, including interviews with experts. Purposive sampling has been used due to few experts on the topic. This study found that insufficient institutional framework, dearth of resources, poor training facilities, lack of modern technology, for example, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are the main hurdles. Therefore, capacity building looks limited. Poor performance of state’s institutions has failed to mitigate losses caused by several natural disasters, especially frequent floods. Resultantly, floods have damaged socio-economic capital. This poor showing demands a much larger meaningful capacity building for disaster management.
Keywords: Capacity building, Disaster Management, Implementation, Infrastructure, Planning, natural hazards
The Adoption and Experience of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) During Covid 19 Enviroment: Lessons for The Future (Published)
This study aims to investigate analyse the adoption of PPPs during COVID 19 and to examine the impact of COVID 19 on adoption of such PPPs.. Drawing on systematic review, the authors investigated the COVID 19 has had a great effect on the adoption of PPP projects globally. The collected data has been analysed using the themes and content analysis. The findings have findings revealed that COVID 19 has had a great effect on the adoption of PPP projects globally. It was concluded that the adoption of PPPs can be a basis for developing better infrastructure in the era of COVID 19. It was recommended that Governments all over the world need to always use PPPs to address certain economic issues caused by COVID 19 pandemic. The results have also indicated the while PPPs have been used in normal times they have a more important role in saving lives during ahrd times like the Covid 19 times.. The contribution from findings will provide productive insights to help governements in identifying how PPPs can be deployed and utilised to save lives and how they can be affected.
Keywords: Accountability, Infrastructure, public private partnerships