Rural planning in Nigeria: A case study of Odeda Local Government (OLG)

Abstract

The neglect of rural planning in Nigeria has heightened the problems of rural people and has accelerated the country's high rate of urbanization. This paper reviews the current concern and strategies for rural planning against the backlog of heightened problems since the post-independence era with a detailed case study of Odeda Local Government (OLG). In solving rural problems, a number of statutory agencies has been established, and also other rural development programmes and rural-based researches backed by some ad hoc policies and mushroom plans. Rural planning practice, so far, lacks a comprehensive view of rural problems. Under the existing situation conflicting policies are bound to be pursued by the different bodies. There are at least three major problem areas in the different approaches to rural planning. The first is the little or no emphasis given to rural planning in the national development plans. The second is the fragmentary nature and the single-minded approach adopted by agencies with executive responsibilities in rural areas, who too often have pursued a range of secular agricultural policies for reasons of their establishment. Third, every initiative to grapple with rural problems tends to underplay the role of planning authorities. To avoid these problems, there is the need to establish a single authority with a central role to coordinate and implement rural planning strategies and programmes. This paper, in conclusion, discusses the centralized and coordinating roles of the local government and planning authorities in planning for rural communities and the countryside.