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THE RELEVANCE OF POPULATION CENSUS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS IN NIGHERIA

ABSTRACT

The project is on the relevance of population census to economic development of rural areas in nigeria (a case study of orumba north local government of anambra state) the zone comprises of 16 rural communities namely; ajalli, ufuma, ndike, ndiowu, omogho, oko, amaokpala, awa, amaetiti, awgbu, ndiukwuenu, ndiokolo, okpeze, ndiokpalaeze, nanka and ndiokpalaeke these formed the area of the study: in this research work, a sample population was selected and administered with questionnaire and their responses were analysed using percentage method, after the analysis, the researcher find out that adequate population census data is thus a sine qua non for economic development of rural areas and also adequate population census data will help in effective planning of these rural area in order to improve their standard of living. the researcher is of the view that population data required in planning process should be plan by the government which include employment situations based on the findings, youths were encouraged to participate on the society’s development and government should use skilled professionals in census data to eradicate unreliable census date, with this regard, some conclusion was drawn and recommendation were made bearing in mind that rural areas were faced with high population because of high birth rate

CHAPTER ONE

1.0  INTRODUCTION

1.1  BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

At the center of every planning exercise is a population and there is no meaningful development planning activities without population census. Population census   in the work of the United Nation Organization (U.N.O) is the   total   process of collection compiling, evaluating analyzing and publishing or disseminating demographic economic and social data pertaining as a specific time to all persons in a country or in well delimited parts of the country. Usually done in every then years. This definition implies that population census is purely a statistical exercise. Population of a country or other areas is the total number of people who live in it. Population changes as a result of migration. The word “Natural Increase” is the different between births and death. In Nigeria now, it is the poorest country in the third world, they have more birthrate than death especially in their rural areas, so their population increase unless a net loss resulting from  migration and effort  at self reliant growth must proceed  at a very rapid pace if the  welfare of Nigerians especially rural  areas to be improved. Yet, the basic ingredients for planning for development is that population and its composition according to age, six and residence among  others remain  largely  unknown. Available estimates of the total population in the country in each state and also in local government areas are mere guess.

The 1991 census places the population of Nigeria to be about 120 million people. This dramatically increased over the year for a multitude of reasons.  Most of which are social political and economic. One of the decisions to bring governance closer to the people was through the creation and recreation of states and local governances. They also lack economic and social amenities such as roads, pipe borne water. The rural communities are   poorly and economically down therefore referred to as economically underdeveloped. Adequately planning is thus very important for the development of the rural area. Planning is define as “attempt to guide and control the process of changes”. (Brass 1990:430 relies heavily on census data. Currently, lack of population census data in sufficient quantity and quality has been generally accepted as one of the major factor militating against efficient and efficient planning  and administration of development plan in Nigeria and some other rural areas.

1.2  STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM   

Successive Nigeria government during both colonial and post colonial periods understood the importance of accurate population census as the basic tool for good development planning in a country. An accurate and adequate knowledge of the population characteristics and trends   of a country are therefore, a sine qua non for meaningful development in the country. This is so, because development which involves optimum utilization of the nation’s human and natural resources to improve the conditions of living cannot take place without planning. Lack of population census data in sufficient quality and quality has been generally accepted as one of major factor militating against efficient planning and administration of development plan in Nigeria and also in rural areas.

The importance of population census in rural development derives from the fact that a population census provides he main ingredient for planning. The basic population data required in planning processes should be plan by the government which include employment situation and sex. In every planning exercise, is a population and there is no meaningful development without planning, Government is responsible for the planning of rural economic development and this is because efficient and effective planning will help the government to aim towards improving the standard of living of the rural dwellers. Another central problem, is data on socio economic variable. (a) Employment situation: this is one of the major problem of population in rural areas.

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