Coping With Infrastructural Deprivation through Collective Action among the Rural People of Oyun Lga, Kwara State, Nigeria

Against the backdrop of observed inadequacy in infrastructural facilities in the rural areas of Nigeria and increasing inability of the government to effectively respond to this challenge, the rural dwellers through their community development associations (CDAs) have taken up the challenge with commendable determination and resilience. This paper therefore, examines the contributions of these community development associations to the provision of infrastructural facilities focusing on Oyun Local Government Area (A predominantly rural LGA) of Kwara State, Nigeria. Two sets of structured questionnaires were used in obtaining information from the CDAs’ leaders and 360 households randomly sampled in the selected communities. Information was also obtained from the Local Government with the aid of interview guide. Researcher’s personal observations using Observation Checklist supplemented the data collected. Descriptive statistics were used in analyzing the data. The study established that CDAs are playing a significant role in infrastructural provision in the study area. Potable water supply, road rehabilitation, construction of schools, dispensaries and markets were among the notable projects executed by these associations. Inadequate fund, lack of financial and technical assistance from the Local Government and free-riders issue were some of the challenges of these associations. The paper concludes that identification, monitoring and effective partnership with the local CDAs by the governments at the state and local levels is sine qua non to overcoming infrastructural deprivation not only in the study area but the entire Nigerian rural centres.