The Study of Rural Infrastructural Facilities in Kajuru Area, Kaduna State of Nigeria: A Spatial Analysis for Planning
Bulus, J. S.; Adefila, J. O. PhD

Abstract
The importance of rural infrastructure has long been recognized as crucial to promoting economic growth and development. This is obvious considering its wide range of influence on increased productivity, generation of income and improved quality of life. However, this role depends largely on the extent to which the infrastructures are adequately provided, distributed over space and maintained particularly in the rural communities. The objective of the study is to examine the spatial distribution, the condition and maintenance of the rural infrastructural facilities in Kajuru area, Kaduna State of Nigeria. Primary data was collected from field observation, inventory of the infrastructure and administration of questionnaire. Some one hundred and sixty five samples were collected through a purposive sampling technique. Descriptive statistics such as mean, averages and percentages was adopted to summarize the data into tabular forms. Also, standardized (Z-score) analytical technique was employed to depict spatial variation in the rural infrastructural facilities. The study showed that five districts were privileged and some eleven districts wre under-privileged. K/maga has more than average share of (16.18), followed by Kufana (13.71), Idon (5.44), Kalla (3.68) and Iri (0.83) in that order of performance. Kyamar (-10.8) seemed to be the most disadvantaged among the districts, followed by U/Aku (- 7.81), Kajuru (-6.52), Sunka (-5.51), D/Gaiya (-3.97), Rimau (-3.69), Dawaki (-2.28) and the least underprivileged was Iburu district with a score of (-0.6). On the basis of the findings, one recommends among other things that community development strategy should be strengthened such that community embarking upon infrastructural projects such as road construction, building of schools, health centres and water supply should be given financial and technical assistance by the government and by so doing, communities shall become partners in progress with government in economic growth and development of rural areas.

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