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

CHAPTER
TWO
The Human Development
Situation in the Niger Delta
In line with the people-centred approach
to development described in chapter one,
this chapter uses several human
development indices to assess the Niger
Delta region. The analysis highlights
empirical deprivation overall, and outlines
the disparities between different areas and
socio-economic groups. It begins by
depicting the nature, extent and spatial
patterns of poverty and socio-economic
deprivation, underscoring the dismal
performance of governments at all levels
in addressing critical human development
needs.
POVERTY IN THE NIGER DELTA
The incidence of poverty in Nigeria has
increased since 1980 (see table 2.1). According
to the Federal Office of Statistics
(1999), while poverty incidence was 28.1
per cent in 1980, it rose to 46.3 per cent in
1985. It declined slightly to 42.7 per cent
in 1992, before soaring dramatically to 65.6
per cent in 1996. Estimates from the Central
Bank of Nigeria (1999) were even
higher, with the Bank putting the overall
poverty rate for the country at 69 per cent
in 1997. Aigbokhan (1998), using the food
energy intake measure, determined the incidence
of national poverty as 38 per cent
in 1985, 43 per cent in 1992 and 47 per
cent in 1996. Evidence from the National
Bureau of Statistics suggests that using the
food energy intake measure yields a figure
of 34.9 per cent in 2004. The relative
poverty 1 trend reveals that the incidence
rose from 28.1 per cent in 1980 to 46.3
per cent in 1985, but declined to 42.7 per
cent in 1992. It later rose to 65.6 per cent
in 1996 before declining to 54.4 per cent
in 2004 (National Bureau of Statistics
2005).
In the Niger Delta, the situation is similar
to that at the national level. Except for
Rivers and Bayelsa states, where poverty
incidence seems to have stabilized at
around 44 per cent after an initial jump
from seven per cent, the poverty level increased
between 1980 and 1996 (see table
2.1). In line with the national estimate, poverty
incidence declined between 1996 and
2004. 2
Table 2.1: Incidence of Poverty in the Niger Delta, 1980-2004
1980 1985 1992 1996 2004
Nigeria 28.1 46.3 42.7 65.6 54.4
Edo/Delta 19.8 52.4 33.9 56.1 Delta 45.35
Edo 33.09
Cross River 10.2 41.9 45.5 66.9 41.61
Imo/Abia 14.4 33.1 49.9 56.2 Imo 27.39
Abia 22.27
Ondo 24.9 47.3 46.6 71.6 42.15
Rivers/Bayelsa 7.2 44.4 43.4 44.3 Rivers 29.09
Bayelsa 19.98
Source: National Bureau of Statistics 2004.
1 Relative poverty refers to people living below two-thirds of the average weighted household income.
NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT
A critical issue in the
delta is not only the
increasing incidence
of poverty, but also
the intense feeling
among people that
they ought to do far
better given the
enormous resources
flowing from their
region.
High prices and the
earnings of some
workers tied to the oil
industry erode the purchasing
power of the
ordinary person, making
poverty more pervasive
than conventional
measurements
reveal.
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