ANALYSIS OF THE DISTRIBUTIONAL PATTERN OF INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES IN EGUME COMMUNITY, DEKINA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF KOGI STATE

The study analyzed the distributional pattern of infrastructural facilities in Egume community, Dekina local government area of Kogi State, and brought into focus the level of spatial imbalance in infrastructural development. Primary data were generated from the field using Global Positioning System (GPS) and questionnaire. A total number of 204 copies of questionnaire were distributed and 200 copies were retrieved. The data were analyzed, using descriptive statistics of frequencies and percentages in presenting results of specific objectives of the study. Point data was also presented in form of map which shows the locations of the various infrastructures within the study area. Nearest neighbour analysis (NNA) was performed using Geographic Information System (GIS) in other to determine the distributional pattern of the specific infrastructures. The study showed the mean score for political reason on likert scale to be 1.6 (which was less than 2.60) indicating that infrastructures in the community were not there as a result of political reasons. Profit making was 2.6 which is still lower than the accepted value, meaning that the respondents do not agree with that. Security reasons having a scale of 1.8 was also rejected, Traditional ruler’s decision gave a likert mean score of 3.2 which was accepted, suggesting that respondents are in agreement that most of the infrastructures were attracted by the traditional rulers. In addition, the study discovered that some of these infrastructures are clustered, suggesting the need for equity and fairness distribution of infrastructure in order to avoid lopsidedness. Based on the findings of this study, it was suggested that proper attention of the government is needed on the provision of infrastructural facilities in the study area and other rural areas as well.