The Impact of Rural-Urban Migration on Urban Administration: Evidence from Lafia, Nasarawa State

Abstract

This study examines the impact of rural–urban migration on urban administration in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The increasing movement of people from rural areas to urban centers has contributed significantly to rapid urban population growth, thereby placing considerable pressure on urban governance systems. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and utilized both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data were collected through key informant interview with selected government officials, urban planners, and residents, while secondary data were sourced from relevant scholarly works and official reports. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis in line with the study objectives. The findings reveal that rural–urban migration has significantly increased population growth in Lafia, leading to overstretched infrastructure, housing shortages, and the proliferation of informal settlements. The study further finds that the growing population has placed immense pressure on urban service delivery and administrative capacity, resulting in inefficiencies in waste management, healthcare, transportation, and other public services. The study concludes that although rural–urban migration contributes to urban development; its rapid and unregulated nature poses serious challenges to effective urbanadministration. It therefore recommends strengthened urban planning mechanisms, increased investment in infrastructure, improved administrative capacity, and enhanced rural development strategies to reduce migration pressure. The study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on migration and urban governance and provides policy-relevant insights for sustainable urban management in Lafia and similar urban centers.