Infrastructure development and socioeconomic wellbeing in Abia State: Evidence from the Alex Otti administration (Published)
Infrastructure and socioeconomic development are basic means through which the state enhances macro and micro economic wellbeing of both the state and citizens. The study aimed to find out how the infrastructure and socioeconomic development under the Alex Otti-led administration in Abia State improved the wellbeing of the citizens. The study adopted a survey design research method. Questionnaire method of data collection was selected to elicit information from a purposive sample size of 200 respondents. Copies of questionnaire were distributed to the residents of the selected LGAs comprising two urban LGAs and two rural LGAs. The study was anchored on infrastructure development theory as espoused by Agenor (2010). 200 copies of questionnaire were distributed to the respondent but 187, representing 93.5% was validly returned. Data analysis was done with the aid of descriptive statistics. The study revealed that though higher per cent of respondents A and SA vis-à-vis indicators of citizens’ wellbeing (showing evidence of socioeconomic wellbeing of citizens following infrastructure and socioeconomic development in the state), there are indications that issues such as security, social inclusion, high cost of housing and some bad rural roads pose significant threat to citizens wellbeing. Based on the findings, the study recommended inter alia; the state should device a means of increasing security presence with modern technology in the state; government should intervene in the high cost of housing especially in the urban areas by engaging house owners, subsidizing cost of building materials as well as intervening through Public Private Partnerships; road construction and maintenance should be extended to the hinterlands to enable the rural dwellers operate with less transportation hitches. In conclusion, there is robust evidence that citizens’ wellbeing improved following the infrastructure and socioeconomic development under Otti-led
Keywords: Administration, Development, Infrastructure, Socioeconomic, wellbeing