FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION IN BAUCHI STATE (A CASE STUDY OF BAUCHI METROPOLITANT AREA)

ABSTRACT The study assessed the factors responsible for rural – urban migration in Bauchi Statewithreference to Bauchi metropolitan area. Three research objectives were formulated whichweretoexamine the factors responsible for rural – urban migration, assess the challenges facedbytherural migrants in Bauchi metropolis and to identify ways through which rural-urban migrantscan be minimized. A total number of four (4) wards were selected using randomsamplingtechnique in Bauchi metropolitan area. One hundred and fifty (150) questionnaires weredistributed and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The study adoptedpushand pull factors theory of migration to guide the research assumption. The research use surveydesign, employed quantitative techniques in which structured questionnaires were used tocollect information from the respondents. The study revealed the factors responsible for rural-urbanmigration to include lack of social amenities in place of origin, unemployment in place of origin, disease and environmental problems, lack of conducive atmosphere for businessactivities/conduct and inadequate healthcare facilities. Also, the study revealed lowincomes, lack of basic urban services, exploitation, language barriers and the nature of domestic worktobe the challenges faced migrants. Moreso, the study revealed that creating business andemployment opportunities in rural area, provision of modernized agricultural systeminrural area, provision of schools and other educational programmes and provision of social amenitiesin rural areas as ways of minimizing rural-urban migration. The study concludes that thealluring influences of the city social amenities and communication facilities are believedtobeattracting rural dwellers to the urban areas. This is why the rural inhabitants rush to the citiestohave access to these facilities leaving their homes resulting in over population of the cities whichleads to socio – economic problems in the cities. The study recommended among others that basic infrastructure such as electricity, schools, pipe borne water, good roads network, improvement in quality of education, creation of credit and loan scheme, industrial modernization, technical sophistication and entrepreneurship should be put in place in therural areas in order to improve the standard of living of the rural people and ultimately minimizedrural – urban migration. Keywords: Rural-Urban migration.