Longevity in Nigeria: What and what Really Matters?

Abstract

Studies have shown that improvement in longevity would spur labour productivity, income, savings and economic growth. Therefore, the effort to sustain and further raise the growth of Nigerian economy needed not to overlook the possible gains from rising longevity. This study investigated the determinants of average longevity of Nigerians using secondary data spanning from 1995 to 2012. Adopting the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) unit root test and Error-Correction Modelling (ECM) technique, the results revealed that increase in food availability, basic education enrolments, access to sanitation facilities and improved water sources promoted longevity, while carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission cut longevity short. Population density also had positive effect on longevity, but not statistically significant. Thus, environmental policy aimed at reducing the emission of CO₂ will be of vital value in promoting longevity. Also, efforts of both the public and private sectors toward advancement in universal basic education, food production, provision of more sanitation facilities and making subsidised qualitative healthcare services accessible to the very poor and low income earners, are highly required.

Keywords: longevity, Nigeria, determinants, unit root test, error-correction model