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A Paper presented to the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) A Paper presented to the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)

A Paper presented to the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) - PowerPoint Presentation

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A Paper presented to the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) - PPT Presentation

Maitama Branch Abuja on the topic The Implications of infrastructural deficiency in rural development by Engr Samson Ameh Opaluwah PhD fnse fniob fnice fnithe Dr ID: 792921

urban rural development areas rural urban areas development infrastructural poverty public infrastructure civil social capacity population deficiency nigerian nigeria

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Slide1

A Paper presented to the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Maitama Branch, Abuja on the topic:The Implications of infrastructural deficiency in rural development

byEngr. Samson Ameh Opaluwah PhD, fnse, fniob, fnice, fnithe,Dr. Akor Omachile Opaluwah BEng, MPhil, PhD.

Samson Opaluwah Research Foundation (SORF)18th September, 2018

Slide2

OutlineIntroductionEffects of infrastructural deficiencyRural-Urban MigrationSecurity

Reduced public policy implementationReduced public participationIncreased potential for civil unrestSlow achievement of the SDGNSE call to actionStrategyExpected OutcomesConclusionReference

Slide3

The role (good) infrastructure plays in development – be it in a rural or urban area - cannot be over emphasised.It is desperately essential for development to occur.

Slide4

Momsen (1999) defined development as the removal of major sources of unfreedom such as poverty, poor economic opportunities and social deprivation, lack of public facilities, and repressive states.

Slide5

Unfortunately, it is easer to see the direct economic benefit of infrastructural development in urban centres. However,there is ample reason why infrastructural investment in Abuja is more viable than in Abaji. Or embarking on a housing project in Owerri is better than in Ugiri.

Slide6

But our study shows that investing in rural areas have significant (positive) impact on not only the rural community, but also a the urban centres. But the case is not the same vice versa.This points primarily to the interconnectedness of the rural and urban areas. Non can exist independent of the other

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Furthermore, the issues affecting infrastructural development in rural areas are so intertwined that they can not be divorced from one another. Hence the solutions also exists and function in this same interconnected web.

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It will be foolhardy to claim to be able to address all those outcomes in this presentation. We definitely do not have the time or capacity to exhaustively do that in this conference but our research and publications at SORF will continually reveal these findings.I hope at the end of this presentation, we will have pointers that will lead us to various other in-depth discussions.

Slide9

The rural population of Nigeria as at 2016 was approximately 95,604,260.This accounts for 51.400% -a majority- of the Nigerian population.

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Based solely on population and its distribution, the argument that there is a greater need for rural infrastructural development, can vehemently be made.But this paper will point to less obvious, but equally compelling reasons.

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Implications of infrastructural deficiency in rural developmentRural-urban migration

SecurityReduced implementation of public policyReduced public policyPotential for civil unrest

Slide12

Rural Urban Migration

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Rural-urban migration involves the movement of labour from the rural areas to the urban areas in order to achieve a better standard of living.This puts a strain on the resources and infrastructure in the urban areas while leaving the rural areas with a lack of labour. This, therefore, mandates the redirection of (an already limited) resources from rural areas to the urban centres to compensate for the population movement.

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This unfortunately, perpetuates the infrastructural deficiency responsible for population flight to urban centres.

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Furthermore, understanding the effect of gender on migration is important as it is more common for one parent migrating to the urban in search of a better income for the family.The resulting effect of this is a break down in the prevalent family unit. This also raises the chances of sexually transmitted diseases. Momsen (2013) in her research in Lesotho notes that due to the migration of men from

Lesotho to South Africa in search of work, there has been an increase in the number of sexually transmitted diseases from the returning husbands.

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The resulting effect has been a significant drop in the capacity of the ailing parents to tend to their children. This has inevitably created a situation where many communities are filled with grandparents and grandchildren due to sickness and death of the parents. i.e a breakdown in the social system and the growth of a generation without a functioning family unit.

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Security

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The deficiency of infrastructure in rural area has a significant effect on the capacity of the society to protect itself. Whether it is by the state or by civil societies.The capacity for the police, civil defence corps, the federal road safety commission, the vehicle inspection officers or the judiciary to execute their duties significantly depends on the availability of infrastructure.

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If security is not addressed in rural areas, they are likely to be harder to police and will spill over to the more economically developed urban centres thereby serving as a (possible) haven for illegal activities and their perpetrators.

Slide20

The 2006 census showed that over 70% of the Nigerian population is below the age of 30 and about 41 below the age of 15. Though a promising figure, the 2008 report by the world bank shows that nearly 87 million Nigerians are living in extreme poverty (i.e $1.90 a day).

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Many of these able bodied young people live in either rural areas or urban slums. The constellation of unfreedoms (poverty, lack of infrastructure) will eventually lead a significant number either crime or to uncivil activities.

Slide22

Reduced implementation of public policy

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The function of the government as a regulatory instrument is through policies. From economic policies, to environmental policies, to social policies, the capacity for these policies to be researched, designed, implemented, monitored and evaluated is highly dependent on the infrastructure (both human and capital) it has at its disposition.Such infrastructure include staff, schools, offices, softwares, social structures, public areas and social relationships.

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Reduced public participation

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Infrastructural deficiency, as earlier noted, affects not only the structures but the use of them. The role of civil societies in pushing discussion and public participation depends, first off, on the social networks that exist, and then on the structures that facilitate these structure. The importance of meeting spaces, community centres, townhall and social spaces extends to their capacity to foster more interaction in members of a community thereby increasing the probability and capacity for public participation.

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Potential for civil unrest

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Katsina (2010 cited by Awojobi) notes that after so many years of civil rule, the economy (in Nigeria) continues to dwindle; poverty is spreading, and political stability is difficult to seek out”. This continued growth of poverty in the face of a growing young population has been argued to contribute to a surge in pockets of violence across the country. Uche (2010) also noted that since the return to democracy in 1999, there has been an increase in poverty, inequality and unemployment across the country. Of which the correlation to unrest cannot be taken likely.

Slide28

Awojobi (2014) notes that “Aside the increasing level of poverty and the upsurge in inequality, the most distinguish feature of democracy has been the pockets of violence in all nooks and crannies of the country (El-Rufai 2011). Since democratic rule berth in Nigeria in 1999, the country has witnessed an unprecedented level of social vices, such as political violence, ethno-religious strife, kidnapping, armed robbery, militancy and the recent activities of the dread Islamic group called Boko Haram” and recently herdsmen attacks. These are argued to have direct links to the level of underdevelopment or infrastructural deficiency in rural areas.

Furthermore Ajaegbu (2012) argues that “there is high tendency that frustration can lead to groups taking arms against the state”.

Slide29

Whither thou NSE?The prerogative of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Civil Societies is to urge for more investment in rural infrastructure as its benefit equals (or arguably) outweighs investing in urban areas

. And this pressure should be directed at: the Federal Government of Nigeria, The State Governments the private sector andWealthy Individuals and philanthropic organisations

Slide30

POLITICAL STRATEGYAdvocacy to include Rural development as major manifesto item and as an agenda by political parties canvassing for votes.Advocacy for national budgetary realignment in favour of the rural areas

Pressure group to ensure implementation of annual budgetsFormation of NGOs and Civil Society groups at local government levels to crystalize infrastructural development

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NEW DEALRESTORE THE POSITION OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEERTo be in charge of Infrastructure development & management in the LGTo maintain and restore facilities to serviceability levels.

To advice the Local office holders & the community on engineering issuesTo monitor standards and ensure implementation of infrastructure projects.

Slide32

Conclusion.

Slide33

As noted, the effect of a deficiency in the rural area cannot be fully explored in this presentation due to time.Factors like healthcare, education, civic responsibilities, economy and empowerment have barely been emphasised not due to their unimportance but rather due to the broadness of their analysis along with their rather obviousness.

Slide34

Thank you.

Slide35

ReferencesAjaegbu, O. O. (2012). Rising Youth Unemployment and Violent Crime in Nigeria. Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan Ibadan,(PDF) Poverty and Insecurity in Nigerian Democratic Dispensation. Available from:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271194276_Poverty_and_Insecurity_in_Nigerian_Democratic_Dispensation [accessed Sep 14 2018].”.El-Rufa’I, N. A. (2011). Where are the jobs? Accessed on 9-September-2011: http://saharareporters.com/article/where-arejobs-nasir-ahmad-el-rufaiMomsen, J. (2009). Gender and development. Routledge.Ucha, C. (2010). Poverty in Nigeria: Some Dimensions and Contributing Factors. Global Majority E-Journal, Vol. 1, No. 1 (June 2010), pp. 46-56

Slide36

Questions?