Addressing Road Infrastructural Needs of Rural Communities for Accelerated Agricultural Development in Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper highlights the road infrastructure disposition of Abia State in order to verify discordant views and claims on the level of rural development in Abia State, Nigeria. In addition to extensive review of official document of Abia State governments, structured questionnaire were used in obtaining data analyzed using means, frequency distribution and percentages. There is evidence that roads in Abia State received attention by way of construction and rehabilitation. Findings show a predominance of earth and gravel-coated local government roads in the state (71.8%). Almost all the federal roads in the state (92%) were bituminized. Respondents’ perception show visible dissatisfaction with the level of road infrastructural development, a situation that is capable of reducing entrepreneurship and promoting poverty and environmental degradation, if unchecked. The paper notes the complementary relationship between good access roads, promotion of opportunities, empowerment and security in driving rural development; and recommends strategic measures for improving the road network and promoting social and economic well-being of inhabitants of Abia State.