PROVISION OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE ON RURAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN IDANRE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE.

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.