Rural-urban connectivity has multiple benefits. It enables a better access to services located in urban areas such as healthcare, education, and for increased political and social participation, connectivity to urban areas allows lengthening of market chains and connecting rural producers to the wider market, enabling participation in the state and national economy.
A better transport network and greater rural-urban connectivity is very neccessary to improve the efficiency and volume of economic activity in rural areas. This benefit relates directly to SDG Goal 8, which calls for sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth through employment and access to work.
Road networks that enable faster and safer access to markets, jobs and other economic and social activities provide significant socio-economic benefits to rural communities. It further helps with income generation and improvement of farmer’s livelihood activities and reducing poverty rate.
Governor Ugwuanyi has demostrated that this can be achieved in Practical sense through the roads he started and completed in Akpugoeze, Awlaw, Nkwere Inyi, in Oji River local government area and in other Local Government of the state, this is an indication that he is ever ready to replicate same agenda on a wider scale if given a maximum support as he continues to pilot the affairs of the state as the Governor.
Furthermore, in his initiative to ensure that rural urban connectivity is achieved he makes sure that the safety of people that enroute these roads are assured, this he achieved by making sure that security operatives are stationed along these roads. There are so many other clear instances of his rural development inputs.
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi through his existing antecedents on rural urban connectivity believes that Rural-urban linkage leads to stronger agricultural productivity; essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2, which promotes food security. Most rural communities depend on agriculture (crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry) for sustainance and income generation.
The agricultural benefits of rural roads have been clearly identified in many conscious societies as a component of generating economic activity, rural connectivity also plays essential role for poverty reduction and improving of quality of life.
Consequently, connecting rural and urban areas should be viewed as just one part of a multifaceted and strategic approach His Excellency has used to stimulate sustainable economic growth in rural areas of the state that has contributed to the sustainable development of these communities.
Removing barriers to rural-urban mobility has enabled economic growth among the people of the state, the benefits will be much larger if the people are supportive to the Governor in all his plans and programmes for the state.
Nnamdi Igwebuike
MEDIA TEAM MEMBER OF ENUGU DI N’AKACHUKWU MOVEMENT
