Distributional Inequality in Social Infrastructural Provision in Etim Ekpo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

There is a growing level of imbalance in the distribution of social infrastructure among communities especially in the developing countries, which has considerably impeded the socio-economic development of these countries. This study investigated the pattern of distribution of social infrastructure stock in Etim Ekpo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained from the Akwa Ibom State Statistical Yearbook complemented by direct visit to the sampled settlements in order to ascertain the available infrastructure and update same with the information obtained through secondary sources. Through a systematic random sampling, 30 communities were selected from all the 84 communities that made up the study area while the Z-score variate was employed in determining the distributional inequality in social infrastructure provision in the sampled communities. The results of the standardized and composite indicator scores of social infrastructure provision in the study area reveals that majority (20) of the rural communities are disadvantaged in terms of social infrastructure delivery as large-scale inadequacy and distributional inequality in social infrastructure provision abounds in the study area. The study recommends the urgent need for deliberate efforts geared at increase budgetary allocations for the provision of infrastructure facilities and a well supervised expenditure on the provision of these facilities in the rural communities to be made by the government as these facilities have been found to influence productivity of the rural dwellers and also affect their sustainability. Added to this, is the need for the mapping of the developmental patterns at the state level of the study area, as it would provide veritable tool for policy makers attempting to balance the distribution of social infrastructure in order to enhance the spread of development in all facets of the state.