Author(s)

J. I. Ogolo

Abstract

This paper assesses the role of socio-economic issues of urban centres in rural development. The objectives include the identification of how the surrounding rural areas (districts) interact with urban centre (Amasoma) and how the urban areas promote development in the rural areas through the spread of development /developmental impact to the districts, administrative efficiency and service efficiency/service delivery. In order to carry out this study the urban centres and rural areas were taken from Bayelsa state in Nigeria. Three communities (i.e. the headquarters and 2 other communities) were chosen from each district, making a total of 12 communities from the 4 districts. 60 respondents were interviewed from the 4 districts. The hypotheses were to determine the significant relationship in the study topic in line with the objectives. Eight growth and development inducing functions and socio-economic services were used. It was found that Amasoma has enhanced development in the surrounding rural areas (districts) through the spread of the lower order socio-economic services located at Amasoma. Nevertheless, the physical distance of particularly the Apeteama district from Amasoma affected the interaction levels, the utilization of Amasoma for the service, the administrative efficiency and service efficiency /service delivery between Amasoma and the Amasoma district. Conclusively, the study recommends that Amasoma should be made a local government and that definite boundaries should be spelt out for urban centres, the immediate implementation of the provisions of the Urban and Regional Law No. 88 of 2004 by all tiers of government in Nigeria amongst others.

Keywords

urban centres, rural developments, growth functions, development functions, socio-economic issues, districts, urbanization, minimum population threshold, legal and administrative