Determinants of Rural-Out Migration in the River Benue Basin

Determinants of Rural-Out Migration in the River Benue Basin

Ayila S. Ngutsav¹;Patience Adzande²; Sylvester Iorliam²; Jonathan Ogwuche³; Timothy T. Gyuse² & Fanan Ujoh⁴

¹Department of Economics, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

²Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.

³Department of Geography, Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

⁴Urban Base Consulting, Abuja.

ABSTRACT

This study examined the determinants of rural out migration in Benue Basin. The study used survey research design. A sample size of 851 respondents was used for the analysis comprising of migrants in the Benue Basin across the five states viz: Adamawa, Benue, Nassarawa, Kogi and Taraba states. The study used percentages, graphs and binary logistic regression for the analysis.  It was found that rural out migration in the Benue Basin is determined by both push and pull factors and household characteristics of people.  It was also found that sex, age, household size, education, conflict, death of family member, lack of credit services, lack of basic social amenities at the sending communities and lack of job (search for job) were strong and significant determinants of rural out migration in Benue basin at 5% level of significance.  The study therefore recommended that government should develop the rural areas in terms of formulating policies that would advance the education and health care facilities in rural areas and ensure provision of other basic facilities like electricity and portable water in the rural areas of the Benue basin while there should also be improvement in the establishment of information centers for providing reliable information and opportunities at the sending and host communities.

Keywords: Determinants, Internal Migration, Migration and Rural out Migration