Rural Urban Migration in Kwara State 1970-1985

Abstract

The paper examines the phenomenon of rural urban migration typical of developing economy common to the thirdworld countries. It argues that the oil boom years of the 1970s which resulted in the virtual neglect of the agricultural sector of the economy and the rural base upon which it operated, created a great disequilibrium in the economic opportunities between the rural and the urban areas. Consequently a shift of the neglected rural population in order to enjoy urban privileges was inevitable. The result was a total desertion of the rural home region of the Igbomina people of Kwara State as a result of massive migration to Lagos. The paper conclude that the consequences of this was that government became incapacitated to cope with the rate of growth of cities and its ability to adequately provide for the needs of the urban population, especially in Lagos, was greatly curtailed. This was to create urban slum and a rise in crime wave in cities while the neglected rural areas became greatly depopulated. Key words: rural-urban migration; Kwara state; urban poverty