Understanding Residents Socio-Economic Problems in Rural, Peri-Urban_082124.pptx

The different nature of urban, rural and peri-urban communities offer different opportunities and challenges needed to be understood for proper census enumeration strategies.

1. Understanding Residents Socio-Economic Problems in Rural, Peri -Urban and Urban Communities of Cross River North Senatorial District: A Key to Successful Census Exercise Conference Paper By Ochiche , C. Abua ; Uquetan , U. I.; Uttah , Chinasa ; Essoka , P. Ayuk ; Bassey J. Bassey ; Akintoye , O. Ayorinde and Eneji , E. I. Department of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Calabar , Nigeria. Department of Environmental and Resource Management, University of Calabar , Nigeria.

2. Introduction Census or head count is A technique of obtaining population data of citizens of a community. Census gather data such as sex, age, ethnicity, education, housing condition etc. Census data are needed for evidence-based planning and policymaking. Census enumeration areas are located in communities where people live and perform daily activities. Communities may rural, urban or peri -urban. Each community has its unique nature that offer opportunities and present challenges.

3. Statement of Research Problem Cross River North Senatorial District Consist of f ive Local Government Areas- Bekwarra , Obanliku , Obudu , Ogoja And Yala LGAs. The region has 124 settlements- 11 towns, 35 peri -urban and 78 villages. Urban communities in the region is characterized by dense population of people of diverse socio-cultural backgrounds, formal lifestyle, skyscrapers, slums, busy streets, vibrant night life, a bustling and fast-paced lifestyle. Rural communities are known for low population, remote locations that are difficult to access, homogenous social life, farming, cultural practices etc. Peri -urban communities in the region are transition zones where urban and rural cultures intermixed.

4. Statement of Research Problem Cont. Conducting a census in such a diverse community can be challenging. Understanding the challenges of these communities can inform effective strategies for census enumeration. Research o n the impact of intercommunity variation on census exercises in developing world has been quite limited. There is the need to fill the gap.

5. Map of Cross River North Senatorial District

6. Research Questions What are the socio-economic problems of residents of urban, peri -urban and rural communities in cross river north senatorial district? How can these problems affect census enumeration exercise in the region? What census enumeration strategies can be deployed to enhance successful census exercise?

7. Aim and Objectives The aim of this study is to examine the likely impact of variation in residence socio-economic problems in urban, peri -urban and rural communities on census exercise in Cross R iver N orth S enatorial D istrict. The specific objectives include to: Analyse residents’ socio-economic problems arising from the nature of urban, suburban and rural communities in Cross R iver N orth S enatorial D istricts To suggest the likely influence of intercommunity variation on census enumeration exercise in Cross R iver N orth S enatorial District. Recommend ways of improving census exercises in urban, suburban and rural communities.

8. Literature Review and Conceptual Clarification Literature is reviewed under the following headings; Population density and geographic challenges Language and cultural diversity Internet access and digital divide Trust and privacy concerns Hard-to-count populations

9. Method of Study Research design : S urvey research design Type of data needed : Data on the residents’ socio-economic problems of the three communities and settlement locations. The influenc of the problems on census exercise. Sources of data : Primary sources include Local government town planning officers and survey departments, village heads, retired and active headmasters and census officials in the study area. Secondary sources of data include maps, internet sources and journal articles. Sampling techniques : Simple random sampling was used to select 3 suburban, 5 rural and at least 1 urban communities in each local government area. A total of 10 respondents were selected in each of the local government areas for investigation

10. Method of Study Cont , Method of data collection : Rapid rural and urban appraisal which is a bridge between formal surveys and unstructured research methods was adopted for this study. These include, in-depth interview, questionnaire and physical observations. Techniques of data analysis : Data obtained from the field were processed and presented using simple descriptive statistics.

11. Results Community Problem Community Type Percentage prevalent of problem Implication for census exercise land dispute Rural   175/250=70 Land dispute, cause by boundary issues, claim of land ownership and land grabbing often leads to communal crises that creates insecurity, displacement of population hence making census exercise cumbersome. suburban 40/250=16 Urban 35/250=14 cultural diversity Rural 36/250=14.4 Cultural diversity implies the presence of people of different culture and languages which must be understood and translated for easy census exercise. Suburban 71/250=28.4 Urban 143/250=57.2 Housing Rural 71/250=28.4 Housing problem implies that there may be homeless persons, inaccessible housing, slums, skyscrapers that can pose a challenge to census enumeration. Suburban 18/250=7.2 Urban 161/250=64.4 Drug addiction Rural 59/250=23.6 Drug addiction problem implies that there may be some socially misfit individuals such as lunatics, miscreants, rebels, terrorists and all types of criminals that can make census exercise difficult.

12. Results Cont . Crime Rural 71/250=28.4 Various types of criminalities such as arm robbery, terrorism, pickpocket, electronic gadgets snatching, rapping etc can be serious threats to census officials and the exercise itself. Suburban 125/250=50 Urban 54/250=21.6 Poverty Rural 172/250=68.8 Poverty implies that there may be persons that lack access to basic life support system such as food, clothing and shelter due to income inequality. This frustration usually leads to mistrust on the purpose of the census hence willingness to submit for enumeration. Suburban 53/250=21.2 Urban 25/250=10 Education Rural 120/250=48 The people levels of awareness and literacy influence their perception of the need for census enumeration and hence their willingness to submit themselves to be counted. People with low education found census exercise not necessary. A decision that affects accurate data at the end of census exercise.   Suburban 90/250=36     Urban 40/250=16   Migration Rural 139/250=55.6 Movement of people from rural areas to urban centers often create zones of high and low population in urban and rural communities respectively including transient population. These have serious implications on census exercise.

13. Results Cont . Joblessness Rural 161/250=64.4 Joblessness creates poverty and insecurity and therefore mistrust and resistance to the census exercise in most backward communities. sometimes jobs involve changing locations thereby complicating the output of the census exercise. Suburban 52/250=20.8 Urban 37/250=14.8 Transport problem Rural 168/250=67.2 Movement of census officials from one rural community to the other is very difficult because of the terrain and poor road network. Suburban 70/250=28 Urban 12/250=4.8 Location problem Rural 185/250=74 Location problem implies that some communities may be located in remote and inaccessible locations with difficult terrain such as rugged hills and mountains, swamps and thick vegetations. This often pose serious challenges in accessing these locations for census enumeration.     Suburban Urban 51/250=20.4 14/250=5.6 Racism Rural 37/250=14.8 Population in urban center is heterogeneous thereby making the census difficult because of the fear of dominanc, ethnicity and superiority. Suburban 49/250=19.6 Urban 164/250=65.6

14. Results Cont. Internet Rural 154/250=61.6 It is very difficult to carryout census enumeration in rural area because there are poor internet services. Gadgets used by the enumerators always had internet network problem Suburban 69/250=27.6 Urban 27/250=10.8 Medical Rural 157/250=62.8 Some rural areas have disease outbreak such as epidemics which makes it difficult for census officials to penetrate or access the area. Suburban 58/250=23.2 Urban 35/250=14 Market access Rural 133/250=53.2 Market access problem implies that access to markets in some communities may be limited hence producing transient population that make census enumeration difficult for such population.     Suburban 65/250=26 Urban 52/250=20.8

15. Conclusion This research work has brought to limelight the likely impact of variation in intercommunity socio-economic problems on census enumeration exercises. The differences in residents socio-economic problems among rural, urban and suburban communities in cross river north senatorial district clearly reveals the challenges that may likely emerge when census exercises are to be conducted. These problems have the potentials of producing hard-to-count population during censuses if appropriate census strategies are not put in place .

16. Recommendation Based on our findings, the following recommendations are made; A comprehensive rural, suburban and urban development plan should be implemented so as to eradicate poverty, illiteracy, hopelessness and other forms of deprivations. Training of census enumerators to understand the problems encountered by different communities so that they can develop effective strategies to reach out to those hard-to-count segment of the population. Provision of internet facilities to cover remote locations like rural areas in order to facilitate the counting process.

17. Thank you all Thank you again