DETERMINANTS OF RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION IN SELECTED COMMUNITIES IN THE BENIN REGION, EDO STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to investigate household characteristics as determinants of rural-urban migration in some selected communities in the Benin region. Primary data were collected through the use of questionnaire instrument. The questionnaires were administered to household heads in the communities in rural Benin. Purposive sampling was used in selecting fourteen (14) rural communities in seven (7) LGAs that make up the Benin region, which have recorded highly intensive rural-urban migration. A sample size of 821 questionnaires was used and a total of 761 were retrieved. Frequency counts, simple percentage, mean scores, bar charts and tables were used to present the data. Also, multiple linear regressions were used to examine the relationship between socio-economic characteristics of households and the level of rural-urban migration and to predict the possible determinants of rural-urban migration in the region. Results show that family socio-economic characteristics (age, sex, marital status, education status, family size, employment status, income) do not determine the level of rural-urban migration in the study area. However, some of these characteristics showed significance in individual communities. It was recommended that the appropriate authority should as a matter of importance, create public awareness in various communities on the dangers that might befall the communities if household heads continue to encourage their wards to migrate. Also, government should put in place policies that will benefit rural communities, particularly the youth in form of socioeconomic security as well as basic social amenities to prevent rural-urban migration in the Benin region.