Conceptualizing Rurality for Socio-Economic Development in Rural Areas of the Niger Delta Region in Nigeria

Abstract

This study employed the use of case study in extensive review of secondary data and observation to critically examine the structural characteristics of rural areas in the Niger Delta with an insight for rural development. It is sufficiently obvious that there is a missing link to sustainable rural development in this region. The Niger Delta in Nigeria is not only endowed with crude oil or petroleum resources as conceived in many sections, but also has a rich rural life thatcan be explored for poverty alleviation and pedestal the rural areas on the path of income and livelihood security, and ultimately lead to sustainable development if the rural structures and characteristics are properly harnessed. Based on Nigeria’s criteria for rurality, which is a settlement with population less than 20,000, the area has over 13,329 rural settlements making it predominantly rural, and over 90% of the rural economy is dependent on agriculture which suffers various challenges such as lack of power supply, lack of modern technology, lack of processing or preservation facilities, vulnerability to flood and climatic instability and lack of access to capital amongst several others.