Abstract:
The invaluable role of transport infrastructure in the development of any geographical
area cannot be over emphasized. The availability and quality of transport infrastructure in an
area either rural or urban determines the extent of social and economic development in that
particular area. This study seeks to assess the transport infrastructural condition in the rural
area of Idanre local government area and the interrelationship that exist between rural
transport infrastructure and rural socio-economic development in the area. It also examines
how the state of transport infrastructure in this study area affects its socio-economic
development.
Primary data were collected in the study area, using questionnaire that were administered in
order to gather data that assisted in assessing the provision of transport infrastructure in the
study area. Data gathered through the use of this instrument includes: socio-economic
characteristics of the respondents, the condition of road and other transport infrastructure,
occupation, articles of trade among others in the study area.
The study also relied on traffic survey and focus group discussions to collect data on physical
outlook and the conditions of transport infrastructure and its availability in the study area.
Secondary data obtained include: the total number of settlements in the study area, the
distances of each settlement to the local government headquarters, total number of tarred and
untarred roads, types of agricultural produce in the area, among others.
It was revealed through the study that all transport infrastructure in the study area which
includes roads and bridges are in deplorable condition and needed urgent attention. The
findings also revealed that all the road network, the major transport infrastructure in the study
are in deplorable condition, the surface are filled with potholes, rough and undulating, there is
no part of the year that road network in this region are easily accessible. This explains the
reason why motorcycles popularly known as Okada and four-wheel mini trucks are the major
types of vehicles visible on the road, and this account for the high cost of transportation in the
study area. The study further discovered that this problem has negative impact on farming
activities, health and the overall socio-economic development and wellbeing of the rural
dwellers in the study area as these highly depends on the availability of good and efficient
transport infrastructure.
The study made useful recommendations on the need to provide adequate and efficient transport infrastructure in the study area and also suggested ways to improve the transport
infrastructure situation in the study area and by extension improve the socio-economic
wellbeing of the rural dwellers.
