ASSESSMENT OF INFRASTRUCTURAL SERVICES PROVISION BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE SOUTH EAST GEO-POLITICAL ZONE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RESTRUCTURING
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Date
2021
Authors
Sunday Evaristus, ABONYI
2Arinde-Simeon, Titilayo Olamide
3Abdussalam, Abdulhameed
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Publisher
Department of Sociology
Abstract
The lop-sided infrastructural architecture in many geopolitical zones in Nigeria since the enthronement of President Mohammadu Buhari administration in 2015 seems to be one of the main causes of the current political agitations and secessionist movements calling for restructuring. Notwithstanding the provision of the nation's constitution that guarantees true federalism with equity, justice, and fairness, many people, especially in the Southeast region of Nigeria have alleged favoritism and marginalization in the provisions of some basic infrastructural services. The paper examined the nature of infrastructural services provided in this geo-political zone (south east) in comparison with other geopolitical entities in Nigeria and its implications to political restructuring. The qualitative method of data collection was employed with In-depth Interview (IDI) as the major instrument although complemented with secondary sources The Equity Theory and Spatial Inequality Theory formed the theoretical framework of the study. Findings from the study revealed that the southeast geo-political zone has been marginalized in infrastructural services distribution which the respondents attributed to ethnicity and religious differences. The respondents did not consider resources derivation as an attributable factor but agreed generally that the refusal of the zone to vote massively for the ruling government in 2015 and 2019 general elections respectively accounted for their ordeal. Given these revelations, some recommendations were made geared at embracing equity, justice, and fairness in infrastructural services distribution which will also douse the current tension for restructuring.
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Keywords
Assessment, Infrastructure, Infrastructural services, Geo-political zone, Restructuring