Effect of Rural Roads Connectivity and Accessibility on Patronage of Periodic Markets: Case of Kogi West Senatorial District

Abstract

This study examined the effects of rural road transport on the patronage of periodic markets in Kogi West Senatorial District. Owning to the problems of road transport affecting human activities especially marketing in the study area Five LGAs were purposely selected. The selected LGAs were Ijumu, Kabba/Bunu, Mopa/Amuro, Yagba West and Yagba East LGAs. The random table of random number( two contigency)was used for the selection rural markets to ensure fair, even distribution and void of bias. The rural village markets were arranged aphetically and 1/3rd which constitutes 34% of the total rural village markets was selected for the study. The random sampling method was used to select the respondents within each of selected periodic markets on market days using categorization of merchandise. The generated data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics as the required data were qualitative and quantitative in nature. The spatial pattern of distribution of periodic markets was determined using Average Nearest Neighbor statistical tool in ArcGIS 10.1. The graph topological theoretical measure was used to calculate the road connectivity and accessibility of the area. The result shows that 49% of the roads are paved while 51% of the roads in Kogi West Senatorial District are unpaved and in deplorable conditions, rural roads to periodic markets in Kogi West Senatorial district are characterized by preponderances of pot-holes and saddle depressions, too narrow for effective movement at both season of the year and are fairly motor able during rainy season which affects the timely delivery of goods and services in the rural periodic markets in the State, periodic markets in Kogi west Senatorial District are randomly distributed. The calculated Nearest Neighbour Analysis shows an Rn of 1.84 for all the five LGAs of the study areas and the Beta index of all the sampled LGA is less than 1.50 which is not significant enough to promote any reasonable and a significantly rural market patronage in the study areas. It is concluded that the nature and characteristics of rural roads has affected the patronages of periodic markets in Kogi West Senatorial District. The study recommended improvement in rural road connectivity and accessibility in Kogi West Senatorial district.