Rural-Urban Migration and Socio-Economic Life of Rural Communities in Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The continuous and high rate of rural-urban migration in Nigeria has become a societal tumour and a great concern not only to the receiving communities but also to the rural areas, which has grave consequences. This study, therefore, investigates the causes and; effects of rural-urban migration on the socio-economic life of the rural communities in Borno state, Northeastern Nigeria, focusing on Maiduguri the capital city. The study attempted to find answers to research questions using survey design and purposive sampling techniques to collect data from 372 respondents through a structured questionnaire and personal interview. The respondents comprised heads of households of migrants in the New Settlement Areas (NSAs) within the Metropolis. Data for this study were edited, coded and analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS-v20)  and descriptive statistics. The finding revealed that most migrants migrated for fear of insecurity with corresponding values (M = 3.43, SD = 0.86). It is also revealed that the effect of rural-urban migration on the socio-economic life of the rural communities is a decrease in agricultural production with statistical value (M =3.89, SD 1.89). Based on the findings, the paper recommended that the government provide adequate security measures by eliminating all forms of social and political barriers to the security of the rural communities in the state among others.