%0 Journal Article
%T Implications of Community Infrastructure Provision in the Development of Medium-Sized Towns in Kwara State Nigeria
%A A Adedayo
%A GP Afolayan
%J Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management
%D 2012
%I 
%X Infrastructure has been recognized as the crux of human settlement development. This paper therefore examines the implications of community provision of infrastructure in the development of medium ¨C sized towns in Nigeria. Medium-sized towns are settlements with population size of between 5,000 and 20,000. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The findings generally revealed a high level of community participation in the provision of such infrastructure as schools, electricity, roads, water, market stalls, health facilities, and town halls. However, variations exist among the medium ¨C sized towns in the type and number of infrastructure provided by community action. Kendall¡¯s Coefficient Concordance (W) used to test the degree of variations in ranks revealed a significant agreement in the ranking. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis used to classify the medium ¨C sized towns based on infrastructure provision produced three classes. The general implication of this study is that, infrastructure provision by community action can lead to a balanced regional development as other smaller towns around the study emulate the action. Recognizing the role of small ¨C sized towns in a balanced regional development process, government should encourage the people through the provision of financial support, machineries and technical know-how in the provision of infrastructure. This paper recommends the integration of community development plans with those of the local government towards achieving even development.
%U http://www.ajol.info/index.php/ejesm/article/view/82851