Niger Delta Human Development Report - UNDP Nigeria - United ...

drawing other industries to their localities,
as well as labour, social facilities and
services, and infrastructural developments
that ultimately foster economic
development.
The growth pole strategy could work in
the Niger Delta, especially given the
preponderance of small settlements and
the low purchasing power of most of the
people. Potential propulsive industries
include cassava and fruit processing, which
could establish two-way links with other
sectors of the economy and, because they
are labour-intensive, absorb a large number
of workers. If based in the medium-sized
urban centres, especially those located away
from oil-producing areas, industries like
these will serve as engines of growth and
provide alternative sources of livelihood.
Growth poles must be established on the
basis of existing assets and their ability to
stimulate appropriate market forces,
however. Prospects for environmental
degradation and negative social changes
must be simultaneously considered. Table
6.8 lists crops and potential industries that
reflect the relative advantages and natural
characteristics of each state in the delta.
The conditions for economic growth—
whether in industry or services—are
complex and will require planning and the
building of substantial infrastructure, as
well as the development of human and
institutional capacity (NDDC Niger Delta
Regional Master Plan). Table 6.9 shows a
number of pilot projects that the NDDC
Niger Delta Regional Master Plan
considers as potential growth poles in some
urban areas. Most of the projects are
located in state capitals, which may hinder
their impacts. More urban growth poles
could be identified in cities outside the
capitals and in rural areas.
Table 6.8: Potential for Rural Economic Growth in Particular States
State Crop expansion potentials Fishing growth potentials Tourism growth potentials
Abia Cassava, maize, yam, oil palm Aquaculture Heritage (Umuahia)
Akwa Ibom Oil palm, leafy vegetables, yam, Fishing, shrimp culture, Leisure beach (Oron Beach)
cassava aquaculture Ecological (Eket, Delta Creeks)
Bayelsa Cassava, plantain, yam, coco- Fishing, aquaculture Leisure beach Delta
yam, oil palm, rice plantations creeksHistorical (Akassa Raid/
in the mangrove swamps. Nembe-British war relics)
Cross River Cassava, yam, cocoyam, Fishing, aquaculture Numerous historic and preplantain,
palm, rubber, cocoa, historic sitesEcological tourism:
pineapples pristine tropical rain forest and
wild life Unique forests in the
montane region
Delta Cassava, yam, plantain, rubber,
oil palm, diverse fruits
Fishing, aquaculture ‘Tourism belt’ (Ethiope River)
Edo Yam, plantain, cassava, maize, Aquaculture Heritage ( Benin)Ecological
rubber, oil palm, diverse fruits forest (Okomu)
Imo Cassava, oil palm, yam, Fish cage culture in the Leisure resort (Oguta
vegetables, diverse fruits water bodies Lake)Historical (war relics)
Ondo Cocoa, oil palm, yam,
maize
Aquaculture Ecological hills (Idanre hills)
Rivers Cassava, oil palm, yam, Shrimps by trawling Ecological forestDelta
pineapple fishing, aquaculture creeksHistoric (Jaja of
Opobo/slavery relics)
Source: NDDC Niger Delta Region Master Plan
NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
Growth pole’ industries
draw other industries,
labour, social services
and infrastructure.
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