Evaluating the Potentials of Participatory Development Communication in Curbing the Challenges of Population Grouth and Insecurity in Abuja Municipal Area

Abstract

The study focuses on population growth in Abuja Municipal Area Council and its security implications and the potential of participatory development communication in addressing the menaces. The work adopted qualitative research method in data gathering and analysis. Through this research approach, the researcher effectively made use of primary data collected from the field work through the use of questionnaire. However, a number of scholars have over the years argued that participatory development communication is a viable means of addressing societal issues. Hence, the work concludes and recommends that population growth has security implications on the residents of Abuja Municipal Area; and a viable communication approach like participatory communication approach should adopted and employed to address the issues The results revealed that the urge to travel, quest for greener pasture/better living conditions like search for better employment opportunities, among others are the reasons for the persistent rural-urban migration and resultant effects have been the congestion of the available towns, intimidation and harassment of residents and migrants, rise in unemployment rates, crimes, youth restiveness, prostitution and at the other end, lack of positive social, economic, structural and political developments which is visibly evidence in Abuja Municipal Area.