A Sociological Analysis of Urban Bias and Rural Neglect in Development Policy of Gombe State, Nigeria
Volume 8, Issue 2 Muhammad Tasio Dansabo, Lawal Usman
Published online: 2 December 2022
Abstract
Globally, the nexus between urban bias, rural neglect, and development has remained an area of concern stimulating serious academic debate. This paper attempts to use existing knowledge to assess the extent to which the rural areas in Gombe State have been neglected in the developmental policy of the state. Empirical evidence has shown a great deal of over-concentration of infrastructural development projects in urban areas of Gombe State. It becomes disturbing when that is done to the detriment of the rural areas. Unfortunately, this has been the case in Gombe State, since the creation of the state in 1996. The paper captures a glimpse of some aspects of the sociological perspectives on urbanization from three major schools in Sociology. The view that urban bias is the moving force behind needless slowness and inequitability in developing countries is assessed and shared. The content analysis research method was adopted for this study. It aligns with previous research that attempted to assess urban bias and rural neglect. The paper relied on secondary data sources. The paper found some facts about infrastructural projects in Gombe State and highlighted this indicating that the rural areas receive less investment in developmental policy than urban areas of Gombe State. Basic social amenities are either lacking or in a deplorable state and thus the economy is least developed. The paper also examines the causes and negative implications of urban bias. It equally examines rural neglect and critiques of urban bias thesis concluding with some evidence of bias towards rural areas of Gombe State and offering some recommendations to policymakers and academic researchers amongst which include the Government to promote farming and rural (re)settlement, also the promotion of export agriculture to empower rural farmers and adopting enforceable policies that will create a conducive atmosphere for rural transformation through agencies.
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To Cite this article
Dansabo, M.T. & Usman, L. (2022). A Sociological Analysis of Urban Bias and Rural Neglect in Development Policy of Gombe State, Nigeria. International Journal of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, 8(2), 1-10. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.20469/ijhss.8.20001-2