Community Participation in Sustainable Rural Infrastructural Development in Riyom Area, Plateau State of Nigeria

Community participation has long been associated with rural development. Regional developers believe that for projects to succeed, communities need to actively partake in designing, implementing and sustaining the projects that affect their condition of living. This study assesses community participation in sustainable rural infrastructures in Riyom Local Government area of Plateau State, Nigeria. It investigated spatial variation in the distribution of infrastructural facilities, level of participation, contributions to sustaining the infrastructure and the challenges facing the community participation in the projects. Data were generated from both primary and secondary sources. The study made use of 174 sampled population through the administration of questionnaire which constituted the major research instrument for the study by adopting a multi-stage sampling techniques. In addition, focus group discussion (FGD) was conducted among the community based organizations (CBOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community leaders. Documented materials were collected from official gazettes, research reports, unpublished theses, journals and text-books. The descriptive statistical method was adopted involving calculation of percentages, mean, frequency and tabulation of data. Also, inferential statistics as employed namely, the Chi Square and Z-score analytical techniques. The F-test value of 23.380 is found to be greater than the critical value of 21.03 hence, there is a significant difference in the levels of community participation in infrastructural sustainability among the rural people in the study area at . 05 probability level. The Z-score result showed varying degrees of infrastructural distribution such that four areas namely, Hoss, Tse/Gura, Riyom and Bum communities dominated the facilities with scores ranging from (14.40), (13.58), (4.63) to (0.03) respectively while Sharubutu (-3.50), Wereng (-3.92), Fangroi (-4.98), Fang (-7.25) and Tom-gangare (-7.90) communities were under-privileged in infrastructural development. The study revealed that community participation is confined to receiving information and some consultation thereby showing lower level of participation. The infrastructures are being sustained by mounting local security guards, established central maintenance committee and raising funds towards the repair of damaged infrastructure. On the basis of the findings, we recommend among other things, there should be an increased level of awareness and enlightenment about communal participation through mass media, and regular meetings with traditional authorities. Also, involvement of rural people in project formulation, planning and implementation should be encouraged. Moreover, government should create enabling environment where the people at the grass-root will participate actively in decision-making process that affect their condition of living and by so doing, it could stimulate the relationship between government and rural people as partners in progress. Key w ords: Participation Community Sustainability Rural infrastructure Development