RURAL-URBAN MIGRATION AND RURAL LIVELIHOODS IN SOUTHESTERN NIGERIA

This research examined the impacts of rural-urban migration on livelihoods of rural populations in the five states of southeastern Nigeria using the “asset indices” framework. Data for this study were obtained from questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary sources. Six hundred households were purposely selected for this study. The assets of households were analyzed with asset indices technique, hierarchical cluster analysis was used to categorize the livelihood impacts while correlation analysis was carried out on the asset indices to ascertain their relative influence. Finally, the underlying determinants of indices were derived from principal component analysis. Results of the analyses showed that migration impacts on the livelihoods of the rural households but asset indices vary for different states. Generally, financial and food indices have the greatest impacts in the area and subsequently, recommendations are made on how to maximize the impacts of migration on livelihoods.