DECENTRALIZATION AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA: A STUDY OF BURUTU AND BOMADI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

Abstract

This study examined decentralization and infrastructural development in Nigeria using Burutu and
Bomadi local government areas of Delta State as case study. The data utilized in this study were
derived from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were obtained through the
administration of questionnaire, while the secondary data were derived from relevant textbooks,
journals and other documents. Descriptive (survey) research design was employed, while simple
random sampling technique was used accordingly. The population for the study is one hundred and
forty-six thousand, nine hundred and ninety(146,990) adults of Burutu and Bomadi local government
areas, while the sample size consists of three hundred and ninety-nine (399) adults often
communities drawn from the two local government areas. Chi-Square was employed for analytical
purpose to review the nature of statistical significance and relationship between decentralization
and infrastructural development in Burutu and Bomadi local government areas. The findings of the
study revealed that there is a significant relationship between decentralization and infrastructural
development as well as governance capacity and infrastructural development. The study also
showed that the culture of corruption hinders infrastructural development and there exist a
significant relationship between development predisposition, financial capacity and infrastructural
development in Burutu and Bomadi local government areas. The study recommended that there
should be a favourable predisposition to development so as to be able to appropriately manage
available resources (means) to achieve expected development (ends) in local government areas in
Nigeria and the local government should shun corruption and corruptive practices and imbibe the
culture of service so as to promote grass-root development. Finally, Local governments in Nigeria
should device strategies for enhancing revenue generation and utilize same for developmental
purposes.