Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Urban Forum 4/2012

01-12-2012

Urban Livelihoods and Social Networks: Emerging Relations in Informal Recycling in Kaduna, Nigeria

Author: Onyanta Adama

Published in: Urban Forum | Issue 4/2012

Log in

Activate our intelligent search to find suitable subject content or patents.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

This paper examines the dynamics of the relationships found within existing networks in informal recycling in Kaduna, Nigeria. Special attention is paid to power relations. Informal recycling is a major livelihood activity in cities in the south. Beyond the poverty perspective, the nature of informal recycling makes it an appropriate tool to use to capture the complexity and dynamism of social relations and power within networks. It consists of a variety of interrelated activities performed by different groups. The deep interconnections and interdependences necessitate the formation of networks. Drawing on empirical data, the paper reports that the networks found in Kaduna span the household, community, city, and intercity levels. The relations are informal but, in many cases, well structured. Crucially, the paper reveals that the networks are characterized by dependent relations. Those with greater access to financial and social capitals drive the system and play a greater role in shaping network rules and relations. However, no single actor or group has a monopoly on power. The interdependences mean that the different groups rely on each other, and power becomes much more diffused. Furthermore, network relations are embedded in specific sociocultural contexts. Age and gender are identified as crucial determinants in the dynamics of power and bargaining. The paper argues for a recognition of the diversity and inherent complexity of social networks and the adoption of an analytical approach that is more sensitive to the positionality and power of actors than that found in traditional “social capitalist” analysis.

Dont have a licence yet? Then find out more about our products and how to get one now:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Springer Professional "Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 390 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe




 

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Footnotes
1
The figures were arrived at using self-rated lines, a method in which people rate themselves poor or nonpoor based on certain questions.
 
2
The exchange rate is USD 1 = N160 obtained in January 2011.
 
Literature
go back to reference Abdullahi, Y.A., Abdulkarim, B.I., & Badamasi, A.G. (2011). Waste management services: a strategy for the integration of “almajiri” into current waste management action plans of urban centres of Northern Nigeria. Paper presented at the CEMACON Conference 2011, Enugu, Nigeria. Abdullahi, Y.A., Abdulkarim, B.I., & Badamasi, A.G. (2011). Waste management services: a strategy for the integration of “almajiri” into current waste management action plans of urban centres of Northern Nigeria. Paper presented at the CEMACON Conference 2011, Enugu, Nigeria.
go back to reference Adama, O. (2007). Governing from above: Solid waste management in Nigeria's new capital city of Abuja. Stockholm studies in Human geography 17. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International. Adama, O. (2007). Governing from above: Solid waste management in Nigeria's new capital city of Abuja. Stockholm studies in Human geography 17. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell International.
go back to reference Andrea, G., & Beckman, B. (1998). Union power in the Nigerian textile industry: Labour regime and adjustment. Somerset: Transaction Publishers. Andrea, G., & Beckman, B. (1998). Union power in the Nigerian textile industry: Labour regime and adjustment. Somerset: Transaction Publishers.
go back to reference Beall, J. (1997). Policy arena social capital in waste—a solid investment? Journal of International Development, 9(7), 951–961.CrossRef Beall, J. (1997). Policy arena social capital in waste—a solid investment? Journal of International Development, 9(7), 951–961.CrossRef
go back to reference Brown, A., Lyons, M., & Dankoco, I. (2010). Street traders and the emerging spaces for urban voice and citizenship in African cities. Urban Studies, 47(3), 666–683.CrossRef Brown, A., Lyons, M., & Dankoco, I. (2010). Street traders and the emerging spaces for urban voice and citizenship in African cities. Urban Studies, 47(3), 666–683.CrossRef
go back to reference Devas, N. (2002). Urban livelihoods: Issues for urban governance and management. In C. Rakodi & T. Jones (Eds.), Urban livelihoods: A people-centred approach to reducing poverty. London: Earthscan. Devas, N. (2002). Urban livelihoods: Issues for urban governance and management. In C. Rakodi & T. Jones (Eds.), Urban livelihoods: A people-centred approach to reducing poverty. London: Earthscan.
go back to reference Gerdes, P., & Gunsilius, E. (2010). The waste experts: Enabling conditions for informal sector integration in solid waste management lessons learned from Brazil, Egypt and India. Eschborn: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit. Gerdes, P., & Gunsilius, E. (2010). The waste experts: Enabling conditions for informal sector integration in solid waste management lessons learned from Brazil, Egypt and India. Eschborn: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit.
go back to reference Gunsilius, E. (2010). Role of informal sector in solid waste management and enabling conditions for its integration. Experiences from GTZ. Paper presented at Transwaste workshop on the Informal Sector, Geneva, 2010. http://www.transwaste.eu/file/001441.pdf Accessed: 18 May 2012. Gunsilius, E. (2010). Role of informal sector in solid waste management and enabling conditions for its integration. Experiences from GTZ. Paper presented at Transwaste workshop on the Informal Sector, Geneva, 2010. http://​www.​transwaste.​eu/​file/​001441.​pdf Accessed: 18 May 2012.
go back to reference Hunt, C. (1996). Child waste pickers in India: the occupation and its health risks. Environment and Urbanization, 8(2), 111–118.CrossRef Hunt, C. (1996). Child waste pickers in India: the occupation and its health risks. Environment and Urbanization, 8(2), 111–118.CrossRef
go back to reference Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority. (1998a). Edict No. 1 of 1998 Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority Edict, 1998. Kaduna: Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority. Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority. (1998a). Edict No. 1 of 1998 Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority Edict, 1998. Kaduna: Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority.
go back to reference Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority. (1998b). Regulation No. 1 of 1998 Solid waste management. Kaduna: Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority. Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority. (1998b). Regulation No. 1 of 1998 Solid waste management. Kaduna: Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority.
go back to reference Kulausa, H. M. (2009). Estimating the quantity of solid waste generation in Kaduna metropolis. Kaduna: KEPA. Kulausa, H. M. (2009). Estimating the quantity of solid waste generation in Kaduna metropolis. Kaduna: KEPA.
go back to reference Li, S. (2002). Junk-buyers as the linkage between waste sources and redemption depots in urban China: the case of Wuhan. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 36, 319–335.CrossRef Li, S. (2002). Junk-buyers as the linkage between waste sources and redemption depots in urban China: the case of Wuhan. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 36, 319–335.CrossRef
go back to reference Lindell, I. (2010a). Informality and collective organising: identities, alliances and transnational activism in Africa. Third World Quarterly, 31(2), 207–222.CrossRef Lindell, I. (2010a). Informality and collective organising: identities, alliances and transnational activism in Africa. Third World Quarterly, 31(2), 207–222.CrossRef
go back to reference Lindell, I. (2010b). Introduction: The changing politics of informality—collective organizing, alliances and scales of engagement. In I. Lindell (Ed.), Africa's informal workers: Collective agency, alliances and transnational organizing in urban Africa. London/Uppsala: Zed Books and the Nordic Africa Institute. Lindell, I. (2010b). Introduction: The changing politics of informality—collective organizing, alliances and scales of engagement. In I. Lindell (Ed.), Africa's informal workers: Collective agency, alliances and transnational organizing in urban Africa. London/Uppsala: Zed Books and the Nordic Africa Institute.
go back to reference Meagher, K. (2005). Social capital or analytical liability? Social networks and African informal economies. Global Networks, 5(3), 217–238.CrossRef Meagher, K. (2005). Social capital or analytical liability? Social networks and African informal economies. Global Networks, 5(3), 217–238.CrossRef
go back to reference Meagher, K. (2010). The politics of vulnerability: Exit, voice and capture in three Nigerian informal manufacturing clusters. In I. Lindell (Ed.), Africa's informal workers: Collective agency, alliances and transnational organizing in urban Africa. London/Uppsala: Zed Books and the Nordic Africa Institute. Meagher, K. (2010). The politics of vulnerability: Exit, voice and capture in three Nigerian informal manufacturing clusters. In I. Lindell (Ed.), Africa's informal workers: Collective agency, alliances and transnational organizing in urban Africa. London/Uppsala: Zed Books and the Nordic Africa Institute.
go back to reference Medina, M. (2011). The informal sector—a driving force for recycling management. In: E. Gunsilius, S. Spies & S. García-Cortés (Eds.), Recovering resources, creating opportunities: integrating the informal sector into solid waste management. http://wiego.org/publications/recovering Accessed: 18 December 2011. Medina, M. (2011). The informal sector—a driving force for recycling management. In: E. Gunsilius, S. Spies & S. García-Cortés (Eds.), Recovering resources, creating opportunities: integrating the informal sector into solid waste management. http://​wiego.​org/​publications/​recovering Accessed: 18 December 2011.
go back to reference Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Thousand Oaks: Sage. Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
go back to reference Nas, P. J. M., & Jaffe, R. (2004). Informal waste management shifting the focus from problem to potential. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 6, 337–353.CrossRef Nas, P. J. M., & Jaffe, R. (2004). Informal waste management shifting the focus from problem to potential. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 6, 337–353.CrossRef
go back to reference National Bureau of Statistics. (2008). Annual abstract of statistics 2008. Abuja: National Bureau of Statistics. National Bureau of Statistics. (2008). Annual abstract of statistics 2008. Abuja: National Bureau of Statistics.
go back to reference Nzeadibe, T. C. (2009). Solid waste reforms and informal recycling in Enugu urban area, Nigeria. Habitat International, 33, 93–99.CrossRef Nzeadibe, T. C. (2009). Solid waste reforms and informal recycling in Enugu urban area, Nigeria. Habitat International, 33, 93–99.CrossRef
go back to reference Phillips, S. (2002). Social capital, local networks and community development. In C. Rakodi & T. Jones (Eds.), Urban livelihoods: A people-centred approach to reducing poverty. London: Earthscan. Phillips, S. (2002). Social capital, local networks and community development. In C. Rakodi & T. Jones (Eds.), Urban livelihoods: A people-centred approach to reducing poverty. London: Earthscan.
go back to reference Rakodi, C. (2002). A livelihoods approach-conceptual issues and definitions. In C. Rakodi & T. Jones (Eds.), Urban livelihoods a people-centred approach to reducing poverty. London: Earthscan. Rakodi, C. (2002). A livelihoods approach-conceptual issues and definitions. In C. Rakodi & T. Jones (Eds.), Urban livelihoods a people-centred approach to reducing poverty. London: Earthscan.
go back to reference Rogerson, C. M. (2001). The waste sector and informal entrepreneurship in developing cities. Urban Forum, 12(2). Rogerson, C. M. (2001). The waste sector and informal entrepreneurship in developing cities. Urban Forum, 12(2).
go back to reference Roy, A. (2005). Urban informality: toward an epistemology of planning. Journal of the American Planning Association, 71(2), 147–158.CrossRef Roy, A. (2005). Urban informality: toward an epistemology of planning. Journal of the American Planning Association, 71(2), 147–158.CrossRef
go back to reference Saleh, M. (2004). Planning for street trading: a case study of Kaduna Central Business District. Unpublished Bachelor’s thesis, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Saleh, M. (2004). Planning for street trading: a case study of Kaduna Central Business District. Unpublished Bachelor’s thesis, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
go back to reference Samson, M. (2009). Combining forces—networks and federations of waste picker organizations. In M. Samson (Ed.), Refusing to be cast aside: Waste pickers organising around the world. Cambridge: WIEGO. Samson, M. (2009). Combining forces—networks and federations of waste picker organizations. In M. Samson (Ed.), Refusing to be cast aside: Waste pickers organising around the world. Cambridge: WIEGO.
go back to reference Scheinberg, A. (2011). The informal sector in a modern, integrated, sustainable waste management system. In: E. Gunsilius, S. Spies & S. García-Cortés (Eds.), Recovering resources, creating opportunities: integrating the informal sector into solid waste management. http://wiego.org/publications/recovering. Accessed December 8, 2011. Scheinberg, A. (2011). The informal sector in a modern, integrated, sustainable waste management system. In: E. Gunsilius, S. Spies & S. García-Cortés (Eds.), Recovering resources, creating opportunities: integrating the informal sector into solid waste management. http://​wiego.​org/​publications/​recovering. Accessed December 8, 2011.
go back to reference Schenck, R., & Blaauw, P. F. (2011). The work and lives of street waste pickers in Pretoria—a case study of recycling in South Africa's urban informal economy. Urban Forum, 22, 411–430.CrossRef Schenck, R., & Blaauw, P. F. (2011). The work and lives of street waste pickers in Pretoria—a case study of recycling in South Africa's urban informal economy. Urban Forum, 22, 411–430.CrossRef
go back to reference Simone, A. (2010). The social infrastructure of city life in contemporary Africa. Discussion Paper 51, Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. Simone, A. (2010). The social infrastructure of city life in contemporary Africa. Discussion Paper 51, Nordiska Afrikainstitutet. Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet.
go back to reference Tuttle, L. (2009). Ankara Recycling Association (Kooperatif Yolunda Ankara Gerikazanim Dernegi) Turkey. In M. Samson (Ed.), Refusing to be cast aside: Waste pickers organising around the world. Cambridge: WIEGO. Tuttle, L. (2009). Ankara Recycling Association (Kooperatif Yolunda Ankara Gerikazanim Dernegi) Turkey. In M. Samson (Ed.), Refusing to be cast aside: Waste pickers organising around the world. Cambridge: WIEGO.
go back to reference Wilson, D. C., Velis, C., & Cheeseman, C. (2006). Role of informal sector recycling in waste management in developing countries. Habitat International, 30, 797–808.CrossRef Wilson, D. C., Velis, C., & Cheeseman, C. (2006). Role of informal sector recycling in waste management in developing countries. Habitat International, 30, 797–808.CrossRef
Metadata
Title
Urban Livelihoods and Social Networks: Emerging Relations in Informal Recycling in Kaduna, Nigeria
Author
Onyanta Adama
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Urban Forum / Issue 4/2012
Print ISSN: 1015-3802
Electronic ISSN: 1874-6330
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12132-012-9159-8

Other articles of this Issue 4/2012

Urban Forum 4/2012 Go to the issue