DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE STATE OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AREAS IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

The distribution of proven and proved yield-enhancing agricultural technology aimed at achieving national development is significantly influenced by both physical and institutional infrastructure. Development as a concept has been thoroughly researched as a wide and inclusive term used to explain economic growth and social progress. However there has been a shift of focus from industrial and economic development as defining forces to societal transformation. Gran (1983) defined development as a social and practical process aimed at the liberation of human potential by allowing people to gain the most socially feasible and practical control over all available resources required to meet basic human needs and ensure security. The poor, in particular, are free to participate effectively and meaningfully in social, political, and economic exchanges for economic advancement and people empowerment in this framework. In other words, development entails the release of human potential in order for people have full control over resources in order to meet their basic human needs.

Therefore, development is for and by the people. Burkey (1993) defined development from the perspective of individual to general; as a process through which an individual gains self-respect and becomes more self-assured, self-reliant, cooperative, and tolerant of others by being aware of his or her flaws as well as his or her capacity for positive change. This is accomplished by collaborating with others, learning new skills, and actively participating in their communities' economic, social, and political development. Development, according to Todaro and Smith (2006), is a process aimed at achieving equitable social and economic change of society through institutionalized social institutions and people's positive attitudes in order to achieve expedited and higher growth and poverty elimination. Todaro and Smith agreed with Korten (1990) that development is a process of achieving equitable societal change through structural capacities.On the one hand, it is also about the sustainability of the resources.

Burkey (1993) emphasized the importance of a good and popular mindset for collective collaboration and tolerance in development.Pearson (1992), development involves "an improvement in the use of available resources, either qualitatively, quantitatively, or both.It also asserts that development does not refer to a single point of view on social, political or economic progress. Instead, it's a catch-all word for a variety of approaches of moving from existing to desirable socioeconomic and environmental states. It is pertinent to note that a rise in real national income/national output is referred to as economic growth. While economic development entails a rise in living standards and quality of life, such as literacy, life expectancy, and health care. The importance of public finance in achieving economic development cannot be overstated. It is clear that public finance have impacted the majority of developing economies, as seen by rising budget deficits. The public sector typically has an impact on the national economy through revenue allocation (taxation) and allocation of expenditure (social services), as well as possible interventions such as price controls and licensing (Linn 1975).

Reforming public finances entail making political judgements, which most governments in both developed and developing economies would prefer to avoid (Linn 1975). Public finance is critical for achieving a high rate of economic growth that can be sustained. The government use fiscal measures to boost aggregate demand and aggregate supply. Taxes, public debt, and public spending are examples of instruments. In order to combat inflation and deflation, the government employs public finance.During inflation, indirect taxes and overheads are reduced, but direct taxes and capital expenditures increase. More so, to keep the economy stable, the government employs budgetary instruments. During times of prosperity, the government raises taxes and the internal public debt. The money will be used to pay off international debt and fund new inventions. Internal expenses have been decreased.The government uses revenues and expenditures to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas, as well as between the agricultural and industrial sectors.

The government budgets for infrastructural development in rural areas as well as direct economic benefits to rural residents. The government receives taxes and spends them on infrastructure projects.It must also maintain peace, justice and security. It must also bring about socioeconomic change. It employs revenues and expenditures as fiscal instruments for all of these activities (Oyeniran, and Onikosi-Alliyu, 2016). The transformation of enterprises and immense contribution to global sustainable development across countries of the world is highly associated to technical infrastructure. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) acknowledge infrastructure's supremacy as a panacea for a country's development and improving people's lives (United Nations 2016). The SDGs went into effect on January 1, 2016, as a worldwide call to action to eradicate poverty in all forms, safeguard the environment, and promote peace and prosperity for all people by 2030. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were based on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals raging from 2015-2030 which is aimed at no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, encourage lifelong learning opportunities for all and high-quality education, gender equality and women's empowerment, clean water and sanitation, access to affordable and clean energy, economic growth and decent work, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, reduced inequality within and among nations, sustainable cities and communities, responsible production and consumption patterns, climate act (Casier, 2015; United Nations 2016).

Technical infrastructure has remained a critical component in any country's growth. It has been highly advocated in several articles as a catalyst in the growth and improvement of a nation, particularly in enhancing access to social, human, natural and financial resources for the nation (Aschauer, 1989; Buhr, 2008; Jochimsen, 1966; Torrisi, 2009; Egert et.al., 2009). This is because adequate infrastructure contributes to a country's prosperity through boosting economic growth, diversifying output, sustaining population expansion, reducing poverty, and improving environmental conditions (Buhr, 2008). The absence of technical infrastructure, according to Oke (2013), is one of the most major limiting factors to economic growth and the attainment of the MDGs in numerous developing nations. It was claimed that infrastructure investment was responsible for more than half of Africa's improved growth performance and company expansion between 1990 and 2005 (Oke, 2013).

Technical infrastructure is essential for sustaining growth and reducing poverty, and infrastructure planning can contribute to a country's socio-economic development. According Oyeniran, and Onikosi-Alliyu, (2016) World Bank assessment reveals that the quality of technical infrastructure has an impact on urbanization, which is directly proportionate to gross domestic product. Also, physical infrastructure, such as roads, power, and telecommunications, contribute to a country's economic growth and development (Oyeniran, and Onikosi-Alliyu, 2016). Regarding agriculture, adequate technical infrastructure increases farm production and decreases farming expenses; its rapid expansion promotes both agricultural and economic growth. Infrastructure is widely recognised as playing a critical role in generating higher multiplier effects in the economy as a result of agricultural expansion. A 1% increase in infrastructure stock should be correlated with a 1% increase in GDP in all countries (Oke, 2013). More so, historically, governance in Nigeria has been overridden by ethnic, religious, and regional interests and conflicts (Ikeh 2011), thereby, weakening institutions, institutionalizing corruption and slowing down socio-economic development, and much more, the demise of the spirit of national stewardship and patriotism (Sarafa, 2009). Regrettably, the state, the instrument of governance within which socio-economic development is pursued, has remained continuously embroiled in these conflicts (Sarafa, 2009). Whether in the implementation of public policies, budget allocation and strategic political missions, who gets what, how and when,depends on ethnic and regional cleavages with development patterns and trends absolutely characterized by these dichotomies (Oludele, 2008). In the leadership recruitment process, excellence, competence, and character have repeatedly been sacrificed on the altar of ethnic and religious considerations, hence the rise of poor leadership at virtually all levels of government. These issues, and others, represent Nigeria’s barriers to driving sustained technical infrastructure and rural development

AIM AND SCOPE OF RESEARCH

The primary aim of this study is to assess the development of technical infrastructure and the state of agriculture and rural areas in Nigeria. Specifically, this study examines some agricultural indicators such as road viability and accessibility, water supply, gas, electricity and internet. The period of examination ranged from 2011 to 2020.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

This study adopted a desktop research method. The desk-based research consisted of a document and database review of accessible information, statistics, and other data from private, federal, provincial, regional, and municipal sources. A statistical search was undertaken in order to discover, retrieve, and synthesise available material relating to the research problem. The majority of statistical information originated from government sources. These major sources include the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), others includes the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank, and published works. These sources include demographic, economic, and rural data about the communities included in this analysis.