Abstract
The need for road infrastructure arises from the fact that there is a greater need for accessibility and smooth movement of abundant agricultural products especially from the rural areas to the markets in urban centres. The improvement of transportation network in the rural area in this regard becomes imperative. This study was conducted to reveal the importance of development of road infrastructure as a panacea for socio-economic advancement in the rural areas. The study area was stratified into three zones i.e Ibiono Central, Ibiono Northern and Ibiono Southern. The Gamma index was used to determine the level of connectivity of each zone in relation to the distribution of socio-economic activity or services in the area. In analysis of the road network connectivity the gamma Index was used. The results indicate a low connectivity, index of 0.26 for zone A, 0.40 for zone B and 0.31 for zone C, in each of the three zones. This implies that there is poor accessibility, poor connectivity, which result in low level of socio-economic activity in the area. The analysis of the socio-economic development variables was carried out based on quality point assigned to the variables. Finally the correlation analysis was employed to determine the relationship between road infrastructure and socio-economic development. The correlation coefficient of 0.87 indicates a strong, positive relationship between road infrastructure and socio-economic activity. From the findings it is recommended that a major road that links all the zones should be constructed while, other roads should be expanded and tarred; new roads should be developed to improve accessibility. Greater community participation in road development and rehabilitation should be encouraged and a comprehensive transportation plan should be put in place at the local government level. It is hoped that this detailed research work will serve as a basis for the improvement and development of road infrastructure in rural areas which is a catalyst to rural transformation.KEY WORDS: Road, Infrastructure, Paved, Unpaved, Socio-Economic Development
Highlights
The need for rural roads and its resultant effect on the rural communities’ economy cannot be overstressed
In other words rural roads provision forms an intrinsic part of rural development strategies, serving as a mechanism and catalyst for rural transformation through the reinforcement of rural development efforts (UNCHS, 1985, UNEP, 1986)
PRESENTATION AND FINDINGS It is pertinent to note that the government of Nigeria has so far paid insufficient attention to the provision of adequate transport infrastructure in the rural areas as a means of stimulating rural development, not to talk of Akwa Ibom State government which is more concerned with urbanroad development
Summary
The need for rural roads and its resultant effect on the rural communities’ economy cannot be overstressed. The advantages of rural roads provision more often than not outweigh its non-provision Against this backdrop, one readily noticeable shortcoming of the over 90,000 rural communities in Nigeria is either the inadequate provision of physical infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water, marketing facilities and so on, or their outright neglect The poor state of the roads, apart from having undesirable effects on passengers, goods and traffic flow, results in substantial loss of perishable agricultural produce, high cost of moving agricultural produce and other products and exorbitant cost of vehicle maintenance All these culminate in high cost of transport, marketing inefficiency and high cost of foodstuffs and other products derived from rural areas (Ogunsanya, 1987). The sample size of 400 persons was obtained through the application of Taro Yamane’s sample size selection formula for a finite population (Uzoagulu, 1998)
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