IMPACTS OF RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION ON RURAL COMMUNITIES AND URBAN CENTRES IN PLATEAU STATE, NORTH-CENTRAL- NIGERIA

Abstract

This study examines the impacts of rural-urban migration on rural communities and urban centres in Plateau state, North central Nigeria. Rural communities in recent times experience deterioration in economy activities that led to poverty and food insecurity while urban centres have incidents unemployment, decline in wages stemming from urban economic instability. The rural-urban wealth inequality is more concentration on economic activities in the urban centre. Total neglect of rural areas was a result of migration of people from rural to urban centres. Consequently, the study seeks to determine impacts created on rural and urban centre and its expansion causes; positive and negative consequences. A qualitative descriptive method was applied on the study of rural migrants and non-migrants using purposive sampling technique on a sample size of 1325 through which a well-structured questionnaire, in-depth Interviews and systematic observation information was extracted and analyzed using descriptive statistic, multiple regression analysis with the aid SPSS version 23.0. The findings revealed positive and negative impacts on rural and urban areas. Rural communities’ experiences remittance, improved welfare and community projects in a direction positive direction while population dependable, poor agricultural output and food insecurity were consequences of migration. Cheap labour, improve production and increase population were some benefits of rural-urban migration whereas urban congestion, over utilization of amenities and unemployment were of negative influence of rural-urban migration in urban centres. The study revealed strong significance at 0.01 and 0.05 confidence levels with the regression coefficients relatively high. Thus, appropriate recommendations drawn.