IMPACT OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE AND FOOD SECURITY IN OBAFEMI-OWODE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship among governance, road infrastructure and food insecurity in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria. One germane onus of government is the welfare of the citizens. Food is an imperative welfare package and its sufficiency cum security is paramount for growth and development. Access to this food is another germane impetus for the survival of the State, where road infrastructure is lacking, its poses serious challenge to food security. The paper adopts a descriptive analysis, simple percentage as well as chi-square for the analysis of data. Findings reveal that government policies have great relationship with the level of good road infrastructure in farm areas. It was also discovered that many motorists avoid plying routes that will cause damage to their vehicles and the few that ply these roads charge exorbitant amount. Food items often get destroy due to bad road networks resulting to higher prices of the available food, thus, bringing about food insecurity in the country. The paper therefore,recommends that policy actors should extend road infrastructure to the rural areas where farms are located, for easy access and movement of farm produce to the urban areas. With this, the rate of wastage due to bad road will be reduced drastically.