The explosions of global economy have brought about economic activities with the associated environmental problems that are presently challenging environmentalists. One of the activities that has become a serious problem in towns and cities is that of informal sector. The segment of this sector that has been identified to be a major problem in urban areas in Nigeria is that of informal commercial operators. This paper aims at investigating the environmental implications of informal commercial activities in Nigerian cities using Benin City as a case study. Data for the study were generated with the use of structured questionnaire administered on operators. The sample size was based on purposive decision. Two inferential statistical techniques derive from Smith Statistical Package were employed in data analysis. The result showed that informal commercial activities impact on the environmental quality in Benin City. In spite of the implications, it is recommended that the activities should not be ignored and discouraged by government because of its employment opportunities. Instead, the operators should be officially recognized and regulated by the government to enjoy the same privileges that are available in the formal sector of urban economy.
William Okhumode Imimole (Thu,) studied this question.