Geo-spatial Analysis of Infrastructural Facilities in Selected Oil and Non –Oil Producing Areas of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

Studies have shown that the significance of infrastructural facilities is dependent on their availability and spatial distribution. This study investigates the spatial distributional pattern of existing infrastructural facilities in twenty selected rural communities in the oil and non-oil producing areas of Akwa Ibom State. Spatial data were collected on the facilities through field inventory. The study adopted location quotient, Gini coefficient, and the standard score analytical techniques to analyse the spatial concentration, inequality, and infrastructure gaps in the study area. The results revealed a significant variation in the infrastructure distribution with varying degrees of locational concentration, deficiencies, and inequalities. The oil-producing area has four privileged communities, best served with education, health, and water infrastructure. About 51% of the population lives above the income poverty line. In comparison, the non-oil producing area has three privileged communities, best served with small-scale industry and commercial infrastructure. About 45% of the population lives above the income poverty line. It can be concluded that there is a spatial inequality in the provision and distribution of the infrastructural facilities between the oil and non-oil producing areas. The paper recommends enhanced infrastructure investment in underserved areas and an adherence to an optimal location standard to promote equity and spatial balance in the infrastructure provision.