CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the Study
According to the National Communication Commission (NCC, 2014), the global system for mobile (GSM) communications has dominated the Nigerian telecommunicationindustry; as it accounts for about 98% share of the market. Four GSM operators (Airtel, Etisalat, Globacom, and MTN) control the industry in Nigeria. The number of deployed transceiver base stations (BTSs) or mast sites by the four operators grew from zero in 2001 to about 44,000 in May 2014 (Ekataand Kostanic, 2014). The use and deployment of cellular phones and other wireless communication facilities around the world are phenomena; it has not only reduced the world into a global village but more importantly into a global household (Olukolajo et. al, 2013).
The GSM, as it is popularly called, is one of the fastest growing means of communication in Nigeria and the world at large (Shalangwa, 2010). Nigeria is one of the largest users of GSM for communication in Africa; over 50% of the total population in Nigeria depends on the GSM as the quickest means of communication (Zain, 2005). There are four GSM providers in Nigeria with a subscription base of over 163.05 million people (National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 2017). Since the introduction of the mobile phone in Nigeria in the early 2002, it has played a vital role in the dissemination of information (communication, SMS and Data for internet usage). The sector had recorded a high growth from 2.27 million subscribers in 2002, when the first mobile license was issued, to 163.05 million at the end of the first quarter of 2015 (NBS, 2017).
Out of the four GSM providers, MTN dominated with 61.21 million subscribers (42.84 percent), while Etisalat is the least, with 22.3 million (15.69 percent), (NBS, 2015).The launch of Global System for Mobile (GSM) Communications in Nigeria in 2001 heralded a dawn of
relief to teeming Nigerians (Olukolajo et al., 2013). What was once solely a business tool; wireless phones are now a mass market consumer device contributing positively to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of various countries and providing job opportunities to millions of youths, professionals and even petty traders (Otubu, 2012).
GSM base stations and cellular telecommunication masts represent part of the infrastructure required foran effective communication system. In order to have effective network coverage, several base stations are locatednear the target users; the reason telecom operators also site their masts in residential neighbourhoods. The base stations transfer signals between mobile telephones and a network for mobile or normal telephony by means of radio frequency electromagnetic fields. Telecommunication Base trans-receiver stations (BTSs) are designed to enhance communication radio-frequency network signals for the rapidly expanding digital telecommunication users both in urban and rural communities (Turletti et al., 1999). It also facilitates the extension of communication network accessibility to suburban and rural communities lacking access to telecommunication services. Typical BTS consists of telecommunication mast on which are installed radio frequency transmitters and receivers, powered by digital electronic boasters which are installed in shelters within the BTS site.
Even with the numerous benefits of GSM communication, several environmental issues have been attributed to the introduction of this technology. This includes the indiscriminate siting and erection of base trans-receiver stations all over Nigeria. A conservative estimate of over 20,000 Base trans-receiver stations is scattered around the country. Many of the BTSs are sited within residential, commercial, industrial and transit routes. Aside from the risk of chronic human and environmental exposure to radiations and other environmental and safety matters, air quality damage appears to be of priority (IFC, 2007), since many of the base trans-receiver stations are powered by diesel-run power generating sets. Diesel runs combustion engines are known to
release fugitive emissions and other air pollutants (Dürkop and Englert, 2004). Thus, the atmosphere receives gaseous and particulate pollutants from BTSs operations.
The health-related implications of gaseous and particulate release are of great concern (Sarnat, 2011). Some gaseous releases also have detrimental consequences such as the destruction of the ozone layer, global warming and incidence of acid rain (Sivasakthivel and Siva, 2011). As a result, atmospheric emissions resulting from BTSs operations are of environmental concern. Hence the characterisation of air quality in vicinities around operating base trans-receiver station sites areessential in order to ascertain the human and environmental risk associated with base trans-receiver station operation (Olatunde and Olatunbosun, 2013).
However, a lot of Nigerians are saddened by the adverse effects of telecommunications base stations on their lives and property. The situation is made knotty by the indiscriminate installation of base stations close to residential areas and those with large volumes of human activities. It is the closeness of base stations towhere people live and work that exposes people to the hazards associated with them. Apart from death and injuries caused by the falling of some telecoms masts, the noise pollution arising from the generators used in the base stations, solid waste of telecom masts gadgets and oil spillage from the generators, people whose residence are located close to base stations are continuously being exposed to radiations emitted by these stations. (Iortile et. al, 2013).
Statement of the Research Problem
The rapid development boom recorded in the Nigerian telecommunications industry within the last two decade has led to the proliferation of telecommunication infrastructure across the country. This phenomenon is rampant and visible in all parts of the country, particularly in urban areas. The cityscape of the urban areas is distorted with mast towers and satellite dishes
on almost every available space. Majority of this mast is sited without consideration for the impact they will have on the health and wellbeing of residents as well as its implication on urban aesthetics and functional attributes of the metropolis (Lawanson, 2009).
In response to the foregoing argument, the Federal Government of Nigeria through statutory agencies like the National Communication Commission (NCC), NESREA and Town planning board have developed guidelines for the siting, construction and installation of masts in the country in other to reduce the health and environmental hazards associated with this technology. Yet, the indiscriminate siting and construction of masts in most urban centres is still on the increase, and Minna urban space is not immune to this menace.Telecommunication masts are indiscriminately located within residential areas in Minna without recourse to the state urban planning regulation, NCC and NESREA guidelines. The implication of this trend on human health and the environment is significant (Aderoju et al., 2014).
Furthermore, it is also important to note that quite a number of studies (Ezeokwelume, 2011; Babatunde and Adewuyi, 2013; Akin and Magret, 2014; Iortile and Agba, 2014; Adeniji et al., 2015) as been conducted on the subject matter by scholars from different disciplines in and outside Nigeria. These studies have contributed immensely to knowledge in various ways, among which include, establishing the locations of the mast, the inventory of mast, implication of mast location in residential and commercial areas, and the proximity of mast to different land uses. However, the extant literature review shows that little or no study has been able to establish or document the level of conformity of the telecom mast operators to NCC, NESREA, and Planning regulations.
Assessing the performance of the telecom operators is the first attempt towards sanitising the industry in terms of mast location and maintenance in the country. However, the study of Aderoju et al. (2014) on “space-based assessment of the compliance of GSM operators in
establishing base Transceiver Station (BTS) in Abuja Municipal Area of Nigeria” is an exception. The study was able to spatially identify the location of BTs in Abuja municipal area while aggregating the performance of the telecom operators. However, the study of Aderoju et al. (2014) only focused on distance as the only indicator for measuring performance; yet could not provide a well disaggregate performance level of the telecom operators. The performance of the telecoms operators is multidimensional and must be treated as such; issues of waste disposal, maintenance of equipment and site must also be incorporated in the assessment.
Secondly, previous studies in this direction have established the health implication of mast near residential and commercial land-use. However, these studies failed to account for the number of people at risk as a result of the indiscriminate location of the BTS mast. The description of the health implication of mast locations in space as exemplified in the studies of Sabah, (2013), Olatunde and Olatunbosun, (2013) Santini et al. (2002) did not present a true picture of the problem. These studies did not provide adequateinformation on the number of people exposed to health and environmental risk of each of the telecommunication operators operating in Nigeria. It is essential for studies of this nature to estimate the number of people at risk and to determine the culpability of the telecommunication operators. Lastly, going by the studies reviewed, reasonable effort in terms of research has been directed towards the subject matter in some part of the country. However, little is known about the distribution pattern, compliance to standard and the number of people at risk of BTS mast in Minna, Niger State.
Finally, three major research gaps have been identified from previous studies on location and siting of BTS mast. First, is that studies on the subject matter focus on determining compliance basically from the physical perspective of the average distance between the mast and the surrounding land use, without consideration for other factors. Moreover, where this is done, the area under risk is only estimated while neglecting the number of people that are likely to be
affected or exposed to the risk of the BTS mast. Lastly, studies of this nature are yet to be carried out in Minna. This study is, therefore, an attempt to fill the aforementioned gap identified from previous studies.
Aim and Objectives of the Study
Aim
The studyaim to assess thespatial distribution of telecommunication masts inMinna with a view to determining its implication on environmental sustainability.
Objectives
The specific objectives of this study are as to:
- Identify base mast stations within Minna
- Examine the spatial distribution pattern of telecommunication masts in
- Determine the level of compliance of network providers toNCC and NESREA standard and its implication on the
Research Questions
Going by the gaps identified in Literature, the following research questions were drawn.
- Where are the network masts located in Minna?
- What is the pattern of distribution of the telecom mast in Minna?
- Do the network providers conform to standards in siting and location of masts in Minna?
- What is the likely environmental implication of the current distribution pattern of masts in Minna?
Scope of the Study
This study was carried out within the geographical space of Minna town, which consists of 29 neighbourhoods that cut across two LGAs (Chanchaga and Bosso) in Niger State. The study
focused on assessing the impact or environmental-related problem that may arise or affect the people as a result of the existing distribution pattern of the mast in Minna. This was achieved by establishing the location of the existing mast, and the characteristics in terms of proximity to different land use and conformity to NCC and NESREA standards. The level of non-conformity to the specified standard by telecoms operators was established. Furthermore, the study will also try to determine the characteristics and number of households vulnerableto the environmental hazards of BTS mast location in Minna; while exemplifying the spatial distribution pattern for each of the network provider and the level of conformity to specified standards of mast location according to NCC and NESREA guidelines.
Justification of the Study
This study will highlight the location and number of available Global System for Mobile telecommunications (GSM) Base Transceivers Stations in the studied area. It will also help researchers, the National Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in understanding the perception of residents on the health effect of the electromagnetic radiations from GSM BTS. Furthermore, the outcome of this study will help to establish the relationshipbetween the location ofGlobal System for Mobile telecommunications (GSM) Base Transceivers Stations and its effect on the health of residents.Findings from the study will also assist medical practitioners in rendering better health care services. Moreover,this will also serve as an eye-opener to NCC and NESREA that will propel them into formulating stringent policies that will make telecommunication operators comply with the specified standards of setting up a GSM Base Transceivers Stations.
The Study Area
Location of minna
Niger State lies on latitude 8o:00‟ to 11o:30‟ North and Longitude 03o 30‟ to 07o 40‟ East. The State is bordered to the North by Zamfara State, West by Kebbi State, South by Kogi State, South West by Kwara State, North-East by Kaduna State and South East by FCT. The State also has an International Boundary with the Republic of Benin along Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas to the North West. (See Figure 1.1).
Population
According to the 2006 Population and Housing Census, Bosso Local Government Area had a population of at 147,359 people, a land area of 1,606.1km2, and population density of 92km2 While Chanchaga Local Government Area had a population of at 201,429 people, a land area of 73.4 km2, and population density of 2,744km2 (NPC, 2006).
Weather and climate
The state experiences two distinct seasons the dry and wet seasons. The annual rainfall varies from about 1,600mm in the south to 1,200mm in the north. The duration of the rainy season ranges from 150 to 210 days or more from the north to the south. Mean maximum temperature remains high throughout the year, hovering about 32○f particularly in March and June, however, the lowest minimum temperature occur usually between December and January when most parts of the state come under the influence of the tropical continental air mass which blows from the north. Dry season in Niger State commences in October (Owoyele, 2014).
Drainage and relief
In the climate zone, temperatures are high throughout the year. From 1994 – 98, the mean annual minimum temperature of Abuja and Minna were 18380c,22.050c, 20.90c and 21.210c respectively. The mean annual maximum temperature from 1994 – 98 were 34.280c (Abuja) (and 30.550c) (Minna). The temperature recorded during the fieldsurvey in those study was
26.600c. The gentle favourableclimatic conditions of the area coupled with its rich landscape made it possible for the people to settle. Minna has the same characteristics with Abuja region which experiences wet and dry season characteristics of a tropical climate with varying season from April/May to October with heavy rainfall from July to September.
Soil and vegetation
Three major soils types can be found in the state. These include the ferruginous tropical soils, hydromorphic soils and ferosols. The most predominant soil type is the ferruginous tropical soil, which are basically derived from the basement complex rocks, as well as from old Sedimentary rocks, such ferruginous tropical soils are ideal for the cultivation of guinea corn, maize, millet and groundnut (Owoyele, 2014).
Hydromorphic or water logged soils are largely found in the extensive flood plain of the Niger River. The soils are poorly drained and are generally grayish or sometimes whitish in colour due to the high content of silt, ferosols which developed on sandstone formations can be found within the Niger trough.These can be seen along the major highways in the state. The southern guinea savannah covers the entire landscape of the state. Like in other states of similar vegetation, it is characterized by woodlands and tall grasses interspersed with tall dense species. However, within the Niger trough and flood plains occurs taller trees and a few oil palm trees. In some areas traces of rainforest species can be seen.
Socio economic activities
Niger State possesses fertile land as a cherished asset and the potentials are yet to be fully explored. The even climate rich annual rainfall and availability of wide variety of mineral and agricultural resources all attest to the economic potential of the state. Every government that has come to power endeavored to provide good infrastructure such as road, electricity, water and communication facilities to make way for interested investors. Some natural and mineral
resources found in the State include Talc, Gold, and Ball clays, Silica, Sand, Marble, Copper, Iron, Feldspar, Lead, Kaolin, Cass trite, Colum bite, Mica, Quartzite and Limestone. Evidence also abounds as to the availability of sources of power i.e the three hydro-electricity power stations situated at Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro (Owoyele, 2014)..
Figure 1.1: Map of the Study Area
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