International Journal of Management Studies and Social Science Research

CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES OF RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION IN DAMATURU,

YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

Dr Hadiza Mali Bukar

Department of Public Administration
Yobe State University, Damaturu
&
Hussaini Ibn Mohammed
Department of Sociology,
&
Bulus James Ngada
Department of Public Administration
Yobe State University, Damaturu

IJMSSSR 2021
VOLUME 3
ISSUE 3 MAY – JUNE ISSN: 2582 - 0265
Abstract: In most of the contemporary rural areas, a result of rural-urban migration is a rapid deterioration of the
rural economy leading to chronic poverty and food insecurity. In Nigeria, the rate of migration from rural areas to
urban areas has become alarming as more people drift into the urban centres. Large numbers of people moved to
the cities in search of work; it is against this backdrop that this paper examined the causes and consequences of
rural-urban migration in Yobe state with particular reference to Damaturu Town. Survey was carried out amongst
120 respondents drawn from within the city and the outcomes indicate that the major causes of rural urban
migration are seeking for employment and business opportunities. Other factors include poverty, unemployment,
lack social amenities and governmental policies that can bring the rural dwellers close to the Government. This
massive migration was caused, in large part, by the jobs created by the industrial system in the urban areas. But it
presented many difficulties for those people who had to adjust to urban life. In addition, the expansion of the
cities produced a seemingly endless list of urban problems among which are overcrowding, pollution, noise, traffic
congestion, social vices among others. However, recommended that government should provide social amenities
and facilities in the rural areas and jobs opportunities in the rural areas. Vocational training centres should be
established and properly equipped in the rural centres for training and self-employment.

Keywords: Rural-Urban Migration, Poverty, Unemployment, Economy, & Social Amenities.

INTRODUCTION

According to Chaba (2003:50), the coming of civilisation brought development of social amenities and health
infrastructure as well as the acceptance of Western Education encouraged the concentration of humanities into
cities (Urbanization) in some parts of the country. Those areas lacking infrastructures like clean drinking water,
good roads, hospitals, schools, etc. always remained to be called the rural areas. It’s a well-known fact that in many
developing nations, there had been a rapid growth of urban population much more than that of rural population.
Nigeria is a typical example of this, where there had been a tremendous growth of urban areas consequent to the
rapid rural urban migration. In 1974 rural population was 75% of the total population but by 2001 urban
population had assumed a high dimension of 44% of the country’s population. This rapid urban growth portends
serious implications on the environmental and the well-being of the citizenry.

Migration is the movement of people from one geographical location to another, involving permanent or
temporary settlement. The region where people are leaving is referred to as the source region whereas the region
to which people are entering is known as destination region. While rural-urban migration is the movement of
people from rural areas (villages) to urban centres (cities). One noticeable aspect in the society today is the rate at
which people move from the rural to the urban centres. While the urban centres are increasing in population, the
rural areas are decreasing in population. The migration literature has come to regard rural-urban migration as “the
major contributing factor to the ubiquitous phenomenon of urban surplus labour and as a force which continues
to exacerbate already serious urban unemployment problems” (Todaro, 1976). Population growth in urban areas
has soared over the last few decades. For instance, the United Nations documents that 40% of the total least

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 International Journal of Management Studies and Social Science Research

developed country’s population lived in urban areas in 2000, compared to 26.1% in 1975. More specifically, 34%
of the 2000 Sub-Saharan African population was urban – a jump of more than 62% over the 15 years (Cornwell
and Inder, 2004). Therefore, this research was intended to focus on causes and consequences of rural-urban
migration in Yobe state with reference to Damaturu Metropolis.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

This study was to examine the Causes and Consequences of rural-urban migration in Yobe-Damaturu.
Specifically, the study attempted to:
i. Identify the reasons and examine the various factors affecting rural-urban migration in the area of study (Yobe-
Damaturu).
ii. Examine the problems of rural-urban migration in Nigeria.
iii. Examine the socio-economic status of the migrants in the study area.
iv. Identify the benefits of rural-urban migration.

METHODOLOGY

A case study design was adopted in this research where Damaturu Town was chosen as a case study. Data for this
study were mainly collected in areas where most of the people have left the rural areas to urban areas. A random
sampling method was used to select the respondents. A total of 120 respondents were involved in the study.
Primary data for the study were gathered by using structured questionnaires and interviews. Secondary data were
obtained from existing literature. While simple percentage was used as a statistical tool for data analysis.

Theoretical Framework

It is globally known that the causes and consequences of migration have been treated and examined by different
discipline. Many scholars have forwarded theoretical and empirical thought on the issues of distinctiveness, factors
and effects of migration on domestics and global level. Lee’s Theory of Migration The push pull notion directly
implied with the reason of migration. Accordingly, the personal initiation to choose migration linked with either
by`` pull ``factors or ``push ``factors. ``push ``factors are a negative reinforcement to leave the home land at
individual level or family level. A good examples in point are low productivity, land scarcity joblessness .Whereas
`` pull ``factors are the magnetizing of destinations /city /. For example, relatively high and consistence wage, job
access and better provision of social and economic services (Gmelch and Zenner, 1996; Broadly and Cunningham,
1994).

According to Lee, one of the proponents of the theory of migration in 1960s, there are four main factors in the
act of migration: characteristics of the origins, characteristics of the destination, nature of intervening obstacles
and nature of the people. He proposed a wider presentation on the concept of pull-push (Lee, 1960). He also
forwarded that the place of departure-origin- as well destination has as good climate to attract and bad climate to
repulse and zero effects on the migrants (Ibid, 1960). On the motive of the decision of migration the factors
associated with departure areas overweighed the destination areas, and also related by personal factors to make
possible or hold back to migrate (Ibid, 1960). The closing point in Lee’s theory of migration was the concept of
“intervening obstacles” in connection between place of origin and destination.

CONCEPTUAL ISSUES

Concept of Rural-Urban Migration

In countries where most of the population is rural, agricultural production systems are increasingly based around
large-scale, mechanised farming, and inadequate access to credit and technology put a strain on the capacity of
smallholders to adapt to droughts and climate variability. Rural–urban migration is the result of these
transformations, and a critical component of urbanisation.

Migration occurs as a response to economic development as well as social, cultural, environmental and political
factors and effects on areas of origin as well as destination (Adewale, 2005). People tend to move away from a
place due to need to escape violence, political instability, drought, congestion in various dimensions and suspected
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 International Journal of Management Studies and Social Science Research

or real persecution. Also, adverse physical conditions such as flood, landslide (erosion and earthquake), insects and
pests, soil infertility contribute largely to the reasons why people leave one environment for another.

Rural to Urban migration is a response to diverse economic opportunities across space. Historically it has played a
significant role in the urbanization process of several countries and continues to be significant in scale, even
though migration rates have slowed down in some countries (Lall, Selod and Shalizi, 2006). According to Torum
(2002), the interplay of both “Push and Pull” factors at the points of origin and destination stimulates migrations.
The push factors, which cause migration include: political fear, lack of food, unemployment, wars and unhappy
lifestyle, etc. Similarly, the pull factors are the desire to better life, job opportunities, improved living conditions,
desire for qualitative education, better housing, improved medical care and a good network of roads. Urban and
rural areas all over the developing world are becoming more closely linked socially, economically and politically
(Deshingkar, 2004). An important manifestation of this is the increasing mobility of rural populations through
temporary migration and commuting.

Causes of Migration

The persons choice to migrate from his origin/rural to that of destination / cities determined on different border
reasons. Knowing of the reasons of migration from the rural to urban areas become the areas of interest by
different social sciences disciplines (McGee, 1974 Bilsborrow et.al, 1984). The reason for migration and selection
of the destination areas appraisal become more multifaceted hence the pattern , idea, kind ; the nature and course
varies from time to time , from place to place and from person to person ( UN 1984 , Jansen 1970) .

Most of the research works in the causes of migration revealed that the ``push`` or ``pull`` factors become more
underlying one; and directly linked with economic and non-economic aspects of the migrants. The circumstances
that obliged the migrants to leave his/her origin of residences considered as push factors like conflict, famine, crop failure
due to some reasons and others . The push factors were/are the more predominated than pull factor in developing
countries as reason for migration. The economic base of rural areas solely depended on the agriculture, when the
productivity of land declines and the environment not conducive for maintains of the livelihood of the peasants
which enforces to depart from rural residences to the cities.

The issues of the practical implementation of the principles of democracy become one of driving force for
increments of rural urban exodus. The lack or absences of good governance and the principles of democracy may
pave the way for rural residences to feel unconfident and enforced to migrate. Such kind of political reasons
become one of the reason to rural urban migration in most of developing nations (Aklilu and Tadesse, 1993).

A pull factor is impressive relating to the place a person migrates to. It is by and large a good thing that attracts
people to a certain place. Some scholars stated it as to the young’s ‘Bright lights' syndrome – the move of young
/rural youth from rural areas in seeking of better opportunity in cities. High possibility of access to employment ,
enhanced way of life , adequate provisions of social serves- medication, education ,electricity, piped water delivery
and others - state of feeling safe , recreation, relatives relation were/ are considered as some of the pull factors for
rural urban migration . Cities are the centers of different attraction like a relative high wage, an advanced soft and
hard infrastructure with connection cities facilities and services, enhanced city cultural expression and way of life.

Consequences of Migration

Migration has its own positive and negative consequences on the place of departure and destination. Natural
resource depletion, environmental pollution, earning disparities, redundancy, urban expansion, social unrest,
population crowding were/are some of the negative effects of migration. Whereas migration has paved the way
for development, enhanced process of industrializations, serve as means of livelihood and even more the
remittance become sources of family income and mechanism of to escape drought and famine (Dang et.al 2010,
Mohapatra et.al 2009 ).

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 International Journal of Management Studies and Social Science Research

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Gender Distribution of Respondents

Survey data revealed that 67% of the respondents are males while 33% were females. This reveals that male
migrants constitute the majority among the migrants in Damaturu Town.

Age Distribution of Respondents

Research findings from the study shows that 35% of the respondents fell within the age group of 21-30 years,
33% are within the age group of 31-40 years while 23% are within the age bracket of 41 years and above. This
shows that 65% of the respondents are in their middle ages.

Marital status of the Respondents

The survey results revealed that 45% of the respondents were married, 32% were single, and 15% were divorced,
while 8% were widowed. The result indicates that larger majority of (respondents) migrants are married.

Educational Status of Respondents

The study also indicate that 15% of the Migrants have attained primary school education, 16% have attended
secondary school education, 14% were opportune to attend higher institutional education, such as the Colleges,
Polytechnics as well as Universities, 26% of the migrants have attended religious schools, while 29 % were not
educated. Based on the above survey, it was revealed that majority of the respondents in Damaturu (the study
area) are literates.

Causes of Rural-Urban migration

The study further reveals that the primary causes of mass rural-urban migration includes the following among
others; Extreme poverty in the rural areas, unemployment, Famine and crop failures as a result of land infertility,
Avoidance of the boredom in Agriculture/farming, Business opportunities, Employment opportunities,
Inadequate and Ineffective social amenities like portable water for the consumption of both human and animals,
hospitals/Health centres, Schools, stable electricity supply, good roads, Absence of Industries/Companies in the
rural areas, vocational centres that can allow the rural youths to become self-employed, Report of cities condition
sent by Migrant, as well as the availability of better salaries and wages produced by the industrial systems in the
city.

Consequences/Effects of Rural-Urban Migration

Due to the fact that more and more people abandon their rural homes to the cities in search for greener pasture,
there is definitely going to be insufficient jobs for migrants and the unemployment rate will increase there will be
more workers chasing very few available jobs in the city which in return will result to straining government
resources. Rural-urban migration brings both pressure and impediments on city housing and environment as
migrants arrive from rural areas they live on the streets and makeshift sub-standard accommodation before
establishing themselves. The rate of population growth in the urban centres also lessens the quality of life because
it: destroys resources, such as water and forests, needed for sustenance. Rural-urban migration leads to
overpopulation of the urban centres thus encouraging and raising the rate of crime in the society. Rural-urban
migration also slows down the pace of development of the rural areas.

CONCLUSION

This study has revealed that rural-urban migration is a double-edged problem affecting the rural community as
well as the destination urban areas (city centres).The rural area is being affected in such a way that youths and
adults that supposed to remain in the community and contribute their own quota toward the development of
agriculture which is the main stay of the livelihood of the able bodied rural dwellers, present productive capacity
could be hampered by influx of rural farmer to urban areas of the study area taking along with them vast amount
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 International Journal of Management Studies and Social Science Research

of Agricultural skills to other areas of the industrial systems thus starving the younger generations of adequate
agricultural knowledge to cope with day to day living and their community are no longer available in the rural
areas. They move to urban centres in search for non-available greener pasture and abandon the farming activities
which they believe cannot earn them what they will get in the urban areas. Subsequently this tends to reduce
agricultural production and food availability in Yobe and Damaturu in particular. In urban areas, increase in the
population of urban dwellers tends to lead to inadequate housing, poor education due to overcrowded schools,
inadequate health care facilities, increase in criminal activities, traffic problems, few employment opportunities and
other social problems which can make life difficult for the urban inhabitants. Unless the government provides the
basic necessities of life to the rural areas and provide the productive youth in the rural areas with employment
opportunities people will continuously drift in to the urban centres from the rural areas in search for better life
and employment.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations were made and if they are put in place by the
government it will help in solving some of the problems of rural –urban migration if not all.
1. Government should provide infrastructural facilities to rural areas in Nigeria in order to prevent the high rate of
movement from rural areas to urban areas.
2. In view of the effects of rural-urban migration, Government should strive to provide social amenities and
facilities in the rural areas.
3. The Government should also provide jobs for the rural dwellers.
4. Government should also provide good atmosphere in order to encourage foreigners coming to Nigerian rural
areas and invest into the economy that will help in addressing unemployment problems.
5. Government should also establish and provide adequate and effective vocational training centres for the
training of the productive youthful population in the rural areas for self- employment.
6. Such rural youths who passed out of the Vocational training centres should be given micro-loans as a start-up
capital to get them energised.
7. The need for qualitative functional education cannot be overemphasized. Government should try as a matter of
urgency to provide quality education to the masses, the type of education that will make them realise their dream
of been self-reliant instead of dwelling around.

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