The development of rural areas in Nigeria as a cornerstone for the overall development of the nation has become both a problem and challenge to leaders of the country. The study is therefore, set out to assess how the Lower and Upper Benue River Basin and Rural Development Authorities (LUBRBRDAs) have developed their host communities. Other objectives of the study are to examine if the agencies have been able to provide adequate rural infrastructure in their host communities, to know if lack of community involvement at the planning and execution stages of LUBRBRDAsprogramme negatively affected implementation of their projects, ascertain if lack of trained man power negatively affected the agencies in carrying out their functions, and to know if there is significant difference in the performance between Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority and Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority. The study was an empirical research which has population drawn from rural dwellers and officials of Lower and Upper Benue River Basin and Rural Development Authorities. Both primary and secondary data were used as methodology for the study. These were obtained using observation, structured interview and official documents respectively. The analyses in the study were done withthe use of comments of informants on relevant questions during interview, as well as from observation and documentary evidence. The System Theory was used as guide in the analyses of data for the study. It was revealed that large-scale irrigation method of RBRDAs and inadequate consultation/involvement of beneficiaries of rural development programmes, among other factors, marred the success of LUBRBRDAs in developing their host communities. It was therefore recommended that the LUBRBRDAs should be independent in the discharge of their functions, large-scale irrigation method of RBRDAs should be de-emphasized in favour of small-scale irrigation system, and that beneficiaries of rural development programmes should be adequatelyinvolved at the initiation, implementation and evaluation of rural development

 projects. Above all, the government and host communities of the organizations should support and be committed to the activities of the River Basin Authorities to facilitate their success in rural development.