Analysis Of Rural-Urban Migration on Urban Resources Utilization in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to analyze the effect of rural-urban migration on the utilization of urban resources in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of eighty respondents were selected from four communities in the study area using random sampling and multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and bivariate logistics regression model were used in the assessment. The result revealed that majority (76.3%) of the respondents were male while (51.3%) of the respondents fall between age range of 45-59 years. Most (80%) are married while only 48% spent 16 years in formal schooling. Majority (60%) had households’ size of 1-3 persons. Also, most respondents (50%) have lived more than 30 years in the study area. Only (47.5%) had above #1000000 as income realized in a year, while most (60%) engaged in transportation as their alternate income source. The multiple responses recorded showed that lack of basic amenities and flooding as a result of climate change are the major reasons for rural-urban migration. The result from the bivariate logit regression model revealed that age (0.050986), household size (0.089528) and years of residence (0.088442) were positive and statistically significant in influencing respondents’responses on the utilization of urban resources. Only income (9.53E-08)) and years spent in formal schooling (- 0.030674) were statistically negative. Majority (20%) claimed that electricity supply was the most utilized urban resources. Only (15.9%) accentuated that overpopulation of persons competing for scarce urban resources are the major constraints in the study area. Therefore, government and state actors should take into consideration the benefits of establishing rural developmental projects that will improve rural livelihood activities. Also, more urban resource facilities should be developed and distributed in strategic areas of the study areas.