ANALYSIS OF RURAL INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES IN OGBADIBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA.

ADEGBE, M.E., ADEFILA, J.O.* and YUSUF, O.R.

There is a growing demand for the development of infrastructural facilities because they are critical to economic growth. It becomes imperative to have a good knowledge about the phenomenon. The study aimed at analyzing the rural infrastructural facilities in Ogbadibo local government area of Benue State, Nigeria. Five wards were purposively selected for the study namely, Ai-oodo, Ai-oono, Ehaje, Itabono and Orakam. Primary data were collected from 393 respondents through the administration of questionnaire among randomly selected households. The descriptive statistical technique was used to summarize the data. Also, standardized scores (Z-score) was employed to measure level of variation in the distribution of the rural infrastructural facilities. It was discovered that Orakam (4.01) was most privileged while Itabono (-5.51) was least privileged in social infrastructure. Regarding physical infrastructure, both Orakam (1.81) and Ai-oono (0.52) were having more of the facilities while the remaining wards were under-privileged. On institutional infrastructure, it is only Orakam (5.0) that was advantaged while other wards were at disadvantaged. On the basis of the findings, it is recommended that there should be social justice and fair-play in the distribution of essential services. Also, government can encourage communal self-help projects by giving technical and financial assistance thereby reducing community over-dependence on government to provide everything that they need.

Key words: Rural, Infrastructural Facilities, Ogbadibo Local Government Area.