Effect of Sedentarization on Social Services Available to Pastoral Fulanis in Abeokuta North Area of Ogun State

Abstract

The study examined the demographic characteristics of the pastoral Fulanis, length of stay in their current location as well as access to formal education and other social services. Primary data were collected from 80 pastoral Fulanis in Alamala Adehun, Mologede and Obete villages selected by simple random sampling techniques. Chi-square analysis was used to test two null hypotheses. It was found that there were no significant relationships between respondents’ demographic characteristics (age, marital status, sex, educational level and household size) and their length of residence on the one hand and social services enjoyed and length of residence on the other. It was discovered that sedentarisation contributed to livelihood diversification into crop farming and petty trading but has not influenced the social services enjoyed. It was recommended that pastoral Fulanis should be provided with adequate extension services and social facilities, such as education, water supply, electricity, adequate transportation and farm credit. This will contribute effectively to the agricultural development of Nigeria.