Are home-based enterprises (HBEs) an economic lifeline or scenic distortion in Nigeria? Evidence from Ikot Epkene, Akwa Ibom State.

There is a growing polarity in perspective of the proliferation of home-based enterprises (HBEs) in both developed and developing societies. In the developing societies, for example, Nigeria, apparently because of shrinking formal sector due largely to economic recession, HBEs are becoming the mainstay and economic support mechanisms for households and communities disadvantaged by limitations in the formal sector. Responses by researchers, urban planners, and development experts to the global trend of HBEs have been mixed, analogous, and ongoing. This study investigates these debates with evidence from Ikot Ekpene Metropolis in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. Our aim is to examine the lifeline benefits and environmental issues of HBEs, deterioration and environmental distortion on the general scenery of cities. The study reviewed existing knowledge and understanding of the HBEs and made use of quantitative survey research design. We collected our data using mainly the administration of a set of questionnaires to HBEs operators and the residents using a systematic random sampling technique. Results show that, albeit respondents acknowledge HBEs have environmental downsides with an average high impact of 43%, they however, believe that the economic benefits are much more pronounced and dominant with an average high impact of 77%. The study therefore concludes that HBEs are more of lifeline than they are scenic distorter. Therefore, it is crucial that urban planning policy includes the HBEs operation to maximise its full potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]