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

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Full participation in
development
planning will ensure
that everyone has a
stake in the Delta’s
future.
The growth pole strategy is particularly
relevant in the delta because of the
preponderance of small settlements, the
low purchasing power of most of the
people, and the dominance of the informal
sector. Expanding the capacity of informal
businesses through connections to new
industries would do much to reduce both
poverty and gender disparities. Key to this
process, however, is that informal sector
entrepreneurs need to learn new and
modern ways of doing business to avoid
displacement and marginalization.
Improving rural competitiveness in nontraditional
agricultural products through
value-added export could be one major
source of economic diversification. The
region can readily produce rice, sugar, cocoa,
roots and tubers, citrus fruits, plantains,
rubber and rubber products, and is
blessed with many resources for aquaculture
and forestry. Cultivation of industries
related to these products deserves the active
support of the various governments,
oil and gas companies and other stakeholders.
Training and skills acquisition, especially
tied to modern technology; seed
multiplication centres; access to credit and
affordable modern storage facilities are all
important.
Synergy between agriculture and industry
could come from establishing industries
that use agricultural products. For instance,
linking agriculture with the energy industry
around the production of alternative fuels
such as ethanol from sugarcane and
cassava shows great promise and could
benefit both sectors. There is also the need
to rapidly expand such service industries
as information technology and
communication, re-exports through the
creation of free-trade zones and ports,
tourism, water transportation and finance.
Some traditional occupations that could
absorb many labourers, such as agriculture,
need to be improved to attract youths. But
increased local involvement in the oil sector
is worth pursuing as well. Oil companies
can adopt programmes to encourage the
development of skilled and qualified
persons from host communities. Social
and labour policies and programmes could
address this issue through affirmative
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action. One good example of promoting
the local content initiative, a form of
affirmative action, in the country is the
proposed US $350 million Local Content
Fund of the Federal Government, which
would support local entrepreneurs in
delivering quality service at competitive
rates to the oil industry.
Several underlying conditions will determine
the success of the drive towards economic
prosperity in the delta. Many youths
need to change their mindset from one
dependent on the syndrome of ‘settlement’
or ‘standby’ money into one that embraces
a more meaningful and productive life—
heavy investments in education are required.
More broadly, aligning business
objectives with overall human development
will require massive investments in
human capital, access to resources and
functional infrastructure.
Promote social inclusion and improved access to
social services
The Niger Delta Region has historically
felt excluded from mainstream development
in Nigeria. Within the delta, some
groups have been further marginalized.
Social exclusion is always an obstacle to
development, but particularly when most
of the population lives on the margins,
where there are few if any development
opportunities, and economic, social and
health benefits are minimal.
In studying how to engage everyone in the
delta in securing a sustainable future, this
report concludes that resources should be
targeted towards enhancing access to opportunities,
goods, services and facilities
for all stakeholders, and developing capacities
to overcome obstacles and engage in
activities necessary for sustainable livelihoods.
This requires empowering socially
marginalized groups and individuals,
strengthening social and infrastructural institutions,
and developing the capacity of
existing local groups. Fully participatory
approaches to the planning and implementation
of development interventions are
essential; partnerships can go far in removing
the barriers to social inclusion. Interventions
tailored to localities or groups will
meet their unique needs.
NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT