Effect and Prospect of Rural to Urban Migration on the Poverty Status of Migrants in Abia State, Nigeria.

The study focused on the analysis of the effect and prospect of rural-urban migration on the poverty status of migrants in Abia State, Nigeria. The study analyzed the socio-economic characteristics of migrants, assessed economic activities of migrants, determined poverty status of migrants and isolated determinants of rural-urban migration in Abia State, Nigeria. Data were collected using well structured questionaire from 116 households through a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) model and logit regression model. The average age of the migrants was 35.6 years. Analyses also showed that majority (74.10%) of these migrants were males. Majority (56.90%) of the migrants were single and 98.30% of them had formal education. The average household size of the migrants was 11 persons per household. Majority (90.50%) of the migrants were employed in their destination areas. The average income of the migrants from their main economic activities was N94, 034.48 (Ninety Four Thousand and Thirty Four Naira Forty Eight Kobo). Poverty is widespread in the area and across socioeconomic conditions of the migrants. From the binary logit regression result, education, marital status and per capita expenditure of migrants were all with households’ rural urban migration status. Apart from formal educational level which was negative others have direct effect on rural urban migration. It is recommended that addition of vocational courses with skill acquisation programmes in the curriculum of scholars as well as the migrants educational programmes is imperative as that will make them take advantage of large commercial network of the area to fight poverty and reduce migartion. Again, good education is expected to develop marketable and functional skills in the people and thus prepare them for the world of work. Related to this is the need to construct and equip educational institutions in the rural areas. This can help in stemming the tide of rural out migration.