Rural Infrastructure Development as a Solution to Rural-urban Migration
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The main objectives of the following can be seen in the below:
- To throw more light on rural infrastructural development as a solution to rural-urban migration
- To encourage people to stay and develop their communities
- To suggest way by which rural urban migration can be checked and minimized and reduced to the barest minimum
- To suggest ways by which the government can encourage the development of rural areas.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
Rural-urban migration was formerly regarded as favourable in economic development. Today, it has become one of the most embarrassing problems in the Nigerian development experience. Rural-urban migration is ‘‘the phenomenon of a historically unprecedented movement of people from the rural countryside to the burgeoning cities of Africa, Asia and Latin America’’ (Todaro, 1997). ‘‘It is the movement of people from rural areas into cities’’ (Wikipedia). Some time ago, migration existed internally to enable excess labour to be taken slowly from the rural areas to provide workforce for industries in the urban areas and therefore aid industrial growth. However, experience in developing and underdeveloped countries has shown that the rate of rural-urban migration has ceaselessly outweighed the rate of job creation and having an overweight on the social and infrastructural amenities available in the urban areas. (Todaro and Smith, 2007) opined that this adds to worsen the already severe urban unemployment problems triggered by economic and physical inequality between urban and rural areas. Prior to colonialism in Nigeria, the extended families lived a communal life. They carried out their daily activities together in accord and shared their yield adequately following a well comprehended custom. Colonialism exposed Nigerians to international market by the introduction of cash crops and creation of administrative offices in planned zones which necessitated the investment in socio-economic amenities within these areas. This stimulated the quest for paid employment and migration of workforce into these areas and therefore prompted the commencement of rural-urban migration in Nigeria. ‘‘This resulted in an increased migration into new cities such as Lagos, Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Jos and Kaduna: Unskilled labours were required for menial jobs in the urban centers of colonial administration’’ (Nwanna, 2004). The theory upon which this study is based is Todaro’s Model of Migration. This theory offers theoretical basis for proper understanding of ruralurban migration. It gives insight into the reasons why migration takes place. According to Todaro (1997), migration is an economic choice where individuals or households decide to migrate from the rural to urban areas, if there is a higher anticipated income in the urban areas. This model suggests that migration results in response to urban-rural dissimilarities in anticipated rather than actual incomes. The basic premise is that migrants deliberate on the various labour market prospects accessible to them between the rural and urban sectors, and select the one which maximizes their anticipated gains from migration. Due to the establishment of urban centers by the Colonial administration, the urban centers became more appealing to young people in huge numbers since superior employment and other socio-economic conveniences resided there. The rural areas were regularly abandoned by the youths, leaving the aging men, women and children to labour on the farms. This has led to a decrease in agricultural output and its contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Nigeria, lowered the standard of living of the rural dwellers, and desertion of the rural areas. The migration of the rural masses to the urban areas has occasioned a lot of social and economic difficulties in the rural areas. McCarthy (2004), stated that ‘‘excessive urbanization leads to high rate of city congestion, crime and poor infrastructure such as proper sewage system, clean drinking water, electricity and other amenities, chronic unemployment and creation of large slums and Shanty towns’’. Many developing countries including Nigeria, have attempted to resolve their problems of rural poverty and desertion. In Nigeria, from the Colonial period till date, past administrations in the country have tried to reform the rural areas where over 75% of Nigerians live in for the sake of attaining balanced growth and development, and discourage rural-urban migration, to no avail. “While the national population is growing at an annual rate of 2.8 percent, that of the urban population is growing at 5.5 percent.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study sought sought to examine rural infrastructure development as a solution to rural.
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment, the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information on the study rural infrastructure development as a solution to rural-urban migration. 200 members of Oshogbo LGA was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to examine rural infrastructure development as a solution to rural-urban migration
In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges rural-urban migration
Summary
Sustainable development of rural communities must be ensured. This is to manage the development of rural area in a way to satisfy the present social, economic, and environmental goals of cities without compromising the future satisfaction. This helps to overcome the limitations of past human settlement policies and satisfy the growing demand for democratic governance at all level. Finally, using the mineral resources; products of the rural communities and their cultural heritage can be a source of development for the communities. This can be actualized by sitting of manufacturing plant that will need to operate with those mineral resources in those communities where they are found and making adequate policies and provision of other infrastructural facilities available so as to encourage the production of the manufacturing plant and the export of its produce.
Conclusion
Most communities in Nigeria in the past decade has remained in a state of absolute under development, especially at the local government level. The state has failed to record development that is commensurate to its vast human, material and financial resources. It has being a tale of woes, and recurring decimal of poor and visionless leadership, and political instability. The consequences are the failure of the state to maintain and provide the basic needs of its populace. Over the years there have been frequent outcries of increased population in the urban areas as a result of rural- urban migration and its attendant adverse consequences.
Recommendations
Sequel to the research findings of this study therefore, it has become pertinent to make the following recommendations. It is considered in the view of the researcher that it they are taken seriously, and implemented with a genuine sense of purpose and deep commitment; that they will go a long way in enhancing the management of rural – urban migration and programmes set up by the state government.
Both the people and government must co-operate. There can be no even development if people do not support government efforts. Likewise if the government cannot communicate to its citizen what it intends to achieve through its transparency and public accountability, then we still have a long way to go.
The government should make use of a bottom-up approach or management technique. If ideas and policy statement can come from the grassroots or masses then government will be able to know what the people really need. Then programmes and policies will address the needs of the people instead of the selfish interest of privileged few in the state. The government should make use of “best-practice method”. This will help bring out the best of the best. Hence projects and awarding of contracts should not be based on political patronage but on who can best deliver on the job. Hence it must employ well qualified and competent technical and scientific staff.
Reference
- Becker, C.M. and A. R. Morrison (1996), “Public policy and rural-urban migration” in Potter, R. and T. Unwin (eds), The Geography of UrbanRural Interaction in Developing Countries, London, Oxford Press
- Chandler, T. (1994).Urbanization in Medieval and Modern Africa.Urbanization in Africa -A Handbook. J. D. Tarver. Westport – London, Greenwood Press
- Connell, J. al et (1976). Migration from Rural Areas: The Evidence from Village Studies, Delhi: Oxford University Press Egbo, E. A. al et (2009), Rural and Community Development: Critical Issues and Challenges; Onitsha, Austino Publisher.
- Ekpeyong, S. (1992), The City in Africa; Lagos, Heritage Research and Publication
- Escobar, A. (1995), Encountering Development: The Making and Unmaking of the Third World, Princeton. Princeton University Press, `
- Ewuim, N.C.(2010), Theory and Practise of Community and Rural Development, Anambra. Rex Charles and Patrick Publications
