COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN SUSTAINABLE RURAL INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN RIYOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN SUSTAINABLE RURAL INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN RIYOM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
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Date
2014-06
Authors
EMMANUEL, DUNIYO LAAH
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Abstract
The study investigated the spatial variations in the distributions of rural infrastructure, the level
of participation of rural people in infrastructural development, the contributions to sustainability
and the constraints to community participation. Data were collected from both primary and
secondary sources. Primary data were generated through the retrieved 174 structured
questionnaires, using multi-stage sampling technique. Focus Group Discussions (FGD) was
employed to collect data from some community based organizations (CBOs) and Non-
Governmental Organization (NGOs). The findings revealed a high variation in infrastructures
across the sample communities. Four communities including Hoss, Tse/Gura, Riyom and Bum
were at advantaged with a cumulative score of 14.40, 13.58, 4.63 and 0.03 respectively, showing
Hoss and Tse/gura having a multiple fold compared to others while the remaining 5
communities’ (Sharubutu, Wereng, Fangroi, Fang and Tom-gangare) were disadvantaged with
negative values of -3.50, -3.92, -4.92, -7.25 and -7.90 respectively showing Tom-gangare having
the least infrastructures. The study also revealed that community participation is limited to
receiving information, been consulted and without participation with 26.4%, 23.6% and17.2%
respectively, putting the level of participation at a lower level. The study confirms that about
33.3% of rural dwellers sustain infrastructures majorly through contributing funds for repairs of
abandoned or damaged infrastructures, while other forms of sustainability are through securing
infrastructures by using vigilante groups and completing of abandoned projects. Lack of
encouragement from government/development partners’ encouragement, poor leadership and
poverty were among the major constrains to participation reported with 29.9%, 19.0% and 16.7%
respectively. The F-test result showed a significant relationship in the level of community
participation in infrastructural development in the study area. The study concludes that low
participation of rural dwellers in development processes contribute to the un-sustainability of
most infrastructures. Based on the findings, the study recommends among other things that
community mobilization and awareness creation through mass media, regular meetings with
traditional authorities should be upheld. Also, involving communities in project planning and
implementation should be encouraged. It can be concluded that development efforts in the study
area do not allow the rural dwellers an opportunity to participate in projects meant to improve
their well-being, hence un-sustainability of most projects.
Description
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES,
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA
IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF
DEGREE OF A
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA
NIGERIA
JUNE 2014
Keywords
COMMUNITY,, PARTICIPATION,, SUSTAINABLE,, RURAL,, INFRASTRUCTURAL,, DEVELOPMENT,, RIYOM,, PLATEAU STATE