The Role of Local Government Areas in Rural Transport Financing

Abstract

The Local Government Area is the closest level of government to the rural communities. These rural communities are characterized by traditional use of resources and implements, involuntary idleness of the population from time to time, dearth of infrastructural facilities, and, social amenities, limited capacity for social and vehicular mobility etc. Yet, a greater percentage of the population live there and the rural areas also serve as the food basket of the nation. To get over their problems, the rural communities look up to the Federal, State and Local Government Areas. However, they look more to the local government since it is the closest to them for the provision of good roads, electricity, schools, health centres etc. One area that the local government area has to seriously address to bring relief to the local government areas is the provision of credit facilities to the rural dwellers for transport. This it is hoped will ease human mobility and the evacuation of farm products.