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

A regional approach to
conservation should be
adopted in order to
improve biodiversity in
all the ecological zones
and the international
boundary area.
A community-based approach
to natural resources
management fashioned after the
Cross River State initiative
should be emphasized.
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order to make good use of existing human
capital assets. Capacity development
can help indigenous groups and organizations
become more effective channels of
programme benefits, such as information,
technology or facilities. Such groups may
need training in basic accounting, bookkeeping,
leadership and democratic principles.
Participatory Decision-Making
The participation of stakeholders in decision-making
must be built into the planning
and implementation of all development
programmes, in order to allow local
people a voice in matters concerning them.
This will encourage programmes that meet
people’s felt needs and reduce the feeling
of alienation, which so often creates not
only the perception but also the actual situation
of being socially excluded.
Promotion of Partnerships
Partnerships could go far in removing the
barriers to social inclusion. There are currently
many development projects in the
Niger Delta region. At times, the efforts
even conflict or compete. Closer collaboration
will ensure synergy among government
agencies, oil companies, donors,
NGOs, community-based organizations
and other groups.
Targeting Groups and Localities
The unique needs of particular groups or
communities call for interventions tailored
accordingly. Each strategy should be based
on an assessment of the relevant human,
natural, social and infrastructural assets.
This requires the commitment of government
officials and civic leaders to extending
development benefits to all communities
and groups, regardless of ethnicity,
gender, generation, health conditions or
socio-economic status. Special efforts, including
affirmative action, may be needed
to fully integrate socially marginalized
people into their society
THE ENVIRONMENT AS A BASIS
FOR SUSTAINABILITY
The findings of this report include the fact
that 75 per cent of the people residing in
the Niger Delta region rely on natural endowments
for a living. But air, water, soil
and forest resources have been devastated
by the exploitation of oil and gas resources
by joint ventures, foreign oil companies and
the Nigerian Government. Particular problems
result from gas flares and oil spills.
Local people suffer harm to their health,
productivity, incomes and welfare.
If the current rate of environmental degradation
continues unchecked, human development
will not be sustainable. Some
impacts will extend beyond the delta—the
continuing gas flares and oil spills have
national and global environmental consequences,
including through their destructive
effects on the ozone layer. The level
of pollution in the Niger Delta today reflects
a failure of the state and market,
and of the institutions and incentive systems
embedded in them.
In the future, achieving environmental
sustainability will require creativity and
cooperation. Four types of goals will be
necessary:
• physical
• socio-cultural
• economic
• institutional
Any strategy to achieve environmental
sustainability must be people-centred and
work from the bottom up. It should embrace
partnerships at all levels,
including:
• inter-governmental (local, state and
federal) and intra-governmental (executive
branch, legislature and judiciary);
• government, society, citizens and businesses;
and
• international (involving governments,
businesses, societies and citizens).
Agenda six provides further elaboration on
partnerships. General strategies for the
environmental sustainability goals follow
below.
Goal 1: Physical Goals
The physical goals target the extensive loss
of forest resources, the pollution of the
168 NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT