RURAL DEPOPULATION AND ITS PLANNING IMPLICATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF ONITSHA URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper identifies urbanization problems in Onitsha in line with the drivers of rural outmigration into Onitsha as a prelude to understanding the major cause of the problems, and also to x-ray the rationale for rural out-migration in Anambra State. Data for this study were sourced from primary and secondary sources. One hundred and twenty copies out of one hundred and thirty questionnaires administered were retrieved and used for data analysis. To explain the implications of rural out-migration into Onitsha urban environment, the research adopts survey research method (use of questionnaire) and simple random sampling technique in choosing field respondents for data collection. Data analysis shows that the main driver of rural out-migration into Onitsha is rural poverty and unemployment. Analysis on its planning implications for Onitsha urban development revealed that the issue under reference has resulted to serious slum, pollution, transportation and housing problems. To determine how Rural Out-migration into Onitsha affects Onitsha Urban Environment, Simple Linear Regression Analysis was used and the test was statistically significant at 5% confidence level, indicating positive correlation between out-migration into Onitsha urban and Onitsha urban environmental problems. The Significant value is interpreted as F = 31.746, P = 0.00000007, while the coefficient of determination (R²) revealed that 84% of the urban environmental problem in Onitsha is caused by population increase orchestrated by rural out-migration into Onitsha.The paper therefore recommends for a proper understanding and analyses of the drivers of rural depopulation as a foreground to controlling rural-urban drift, and for appropriate technologies and relevant Geographic Information System to monitor the Onitsha urban environment and manage/control wastes.