Oko, P. E; Anake, C. B.; F. A; Udumo, B. O., Abanyam, V. A. & Odey, D. U.
ABSTRACT
This study sought to analyse intra-rural migration in Obudu, Nigeria’s Cross River State. Specifically, the goals were to figure out what was going on in socio demographic profiles in the rural -urban migrants to Obudu urban, to identify the migrants’ source areas or origin in the study area, to ascertain several socioeconomic factors influencing rural-urban migration in obudu, and to proffer solutions to Obudu’s difficulties with rural-urban migration. The study adopted survey design where Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used in the study with the use of questionnaires from 240 respondents drawn from the 8 wards of Obudu and who are participant in rural -urban migration in Obudu. Data were analyzed using percentages, tables, and frequency counts. According to the findings of the research, socio demographically the migrants were predominantly within the age cohort of 26-45 years and the males were more in number than the females. Furthermore, majority of the respondents were public/civil servants, as some were operating private businesses, and some engaged in schooling. Most of the migrants came from Obudu’s rural districts such as Alege/Ubang, Angiaba/Begiaka, Utugwang North and Begiading. The least source area of the migrants was Ipong. The rural-urban migrants’ socioeconomic motives of migration mainly included need to live closer to place of work, quest to seek for menial jobs, and for schooling. Other factors included to learn crafts and trade, and search for white collar jobs. The study therefore recommended among others, the need for the government to initiate efforts in the formulation and implementation of rural development policies that are geared towards holistic rural transformation that will reduce rural-urban migration, efforts to be made toward the extension of educational institutions, industries and government offices to the rural areas and establishment of cottage industries that make use of agricultural raw materials within the rural areas.