2024/07/11 by Daniel, Udom Sunday, Udousoro, Tahiri E., Effiong, Umo Umoh
#Crime Rates #Population Drift #Socio-Economic Development #Uyo Capital City Akwa Ibom State
paper · doi:10.60787/aasd-v2i1-36
Across the globe, urban development resulting from policies of government on urban renewal or expansions, had, most times, engenders population drift rural communities with concomitant incidence of crime rates in the area. The study investigates the implications of population drift and crime rates in the development of Uyo Capital City in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The attribution theory of Kluegel and Eloit was tested on a purposive sample of 120 respondents selected from eight (8) communities of Uyo and Uruan out of the five (5) LGAs of Uyo Capital City Development Authority comprising Uyo, Uruan, Itu, Ibesikpo and Ibiono Ibom. Data obtained was analysed using independent t-test analysis. Findings underscore problems and challenges of migration of the skilled and the educated people from the source areas to the urban depriving the rural areas of the human capital with increase in crime rates and other social problems in the urban area. The study concludes with recommendations that development projects and infrastructural facilities should be extended to rural areas to aid and facilitate employment opportunities and address poverty which will dissuade population drift and attendant crime and underdevelopment not only in Uyo Capital City, but Akwa Ibom State in general.