ANALYSIS OF SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIFFERENTIALS IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA
ANALYSIS OF SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIFFERENTIALS IN KOGI STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2018-05
Authors
BALOGUN, Grace Foluke
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Abstract
There are environmental contrasts in terms of variations in the distribution of resources among regions. The disparities are glaring among the regions that make up Nigeria and this fact is entrenched in the Second National Development Plan (1970 – 1974). It recognized the spatial inequalities in the country and efforts are being made to reduce the gap among the geographical units. The country has not satisfactorily addressed the issue of how development can be evenly or spatially achieved. The major goal of this study is to assess the differentials in socioeconomic infrastructures development in Kogi State. Questionnaire survey and documented materials constituted major sources of data. All the twenty-one Local Government Areas of the state formed the study area. Some 784 respondents were randomly selected in the state for the administration of the questionnaire. The descriptive statistics method was employed involving the calculation of percentages, mean, frequency counts and averages to summarize the data into tabular forms. Also, inferential statistics were employed namely Location Quotient (LQ), Standardized Score (Z-score) and Factor Analysis techniques. The location quotient result is categorized into upper, middle and bottom thirds based on the performance of each LGA in the distribution of the socioeconomic facilities. The upper group includes Ogori (1.82), Idah (1.78)and Bassa (1.63), while the middle group includes Ibaji (1.18), Olamaboro (1.16) and Dekina (1.12) and the bottom group include Yagba-East (0.86), Kabba-Bunu (0.82) and Ofu (0.80) among others. For the purpose of comparism, the Standardized Scores (Z-Scores) was employed using the five dimensions and the associated 23 variables. The Z-score result showed varying degrees of the indicators of socioeconomic development infrastructures among the LGAs, such that seven areas were found to be advantaged namely Ogori, Idah, Bassa and Omala in the upper category, while the disadvantaged areas include Yagba-East, Kabba-Bunu, Ofu and Ankpa. The Factor Analysis result showed the strength of each factor responsible for the pattern of socioeconomic distribution in the study area. The study revealed a polarized pattern of socioeconomic development in Kogi State. On the basis of the findings, the study recommends that there should be a discriminatory investment in favour of the less privileged areas in subsequent resource allocations by government, community leaders and individual philanthropists. Developing marginalized areas can abate misunderstanding and discontentment that may arise when backward communities feel they are uncared for.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PHD) DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
ANALYSIS,, SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,, DIFFERENTIALS,, KOGI STATE,, NIGERIA,