Examination of Rural-Urban Migration Patterns and Their Planning Implications in Makurdi, Benue State

Rural-urban migration continues to drive population growth in Nigerian intermediate cities, generating planning challenges that strain housing, infrastructure, and service delivery systems. This study examines rural-urban migration patterns and their planning implications in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State and a significant commercial hub in North Central Nigeria. The research adopts a descriptive survey approach, collecting primary data from 210 in-migrants residing in selected neighborhoods through structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. Data captured migration origins, push-pull factors, length of stay, economic activities, and housing conditions of migrants in the city. Officials from Makurdi Local Government Area and the Benue State Urban Development Board were also interviewed to assess current planning responses to population growth. Secondary data on population dynamics were obtained from the National Population Commission. Findings are expected to document increased migration from rural Benue communities and neighboring states, driven by agricultural land degradation, farmer-herder conflicts, and limited rural employment opportunities. The study examines how unplanned population influx is contributing to informal settlement growth in areas like North Bank and Wurukum. Recommendations include the development of migration-responsive neighborhood plans, investment in affordable housing for migrant populations, and coordination between state-level rural development programs and urban planning authorities to address root migration causes. Keywords: Rural-urban migration, Population growth, Makurdi, Urban planning, Informal settlements.