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

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meaningful development outcomes. The
effectiveness of governance, especially at
the local government level, is an issue of
serious concern. At the core of promoting
effective governance is the urgent need
to institutionalize the practices of accountability,
transparency and integrity to guide
the flow of development resources at all
levels.
Agenda Three:
Improve and diversify the economy.
The Niger Delta region, with its stock of
natural and human resources, offers immense
opportunities for developing a diversified
and growing economy. A diversified
economy would reduce dependence
on oil and gas, jumpstart new industries
and provide sustainable livelihoods. A
growth pole strategy would forge closer
links between industries and the production
of agricultural and mineral products,
and galvanize local economies.
Agenda Four:
Promote social inclusion and improved
access to social services.
A major concern is the region’s
longstanding exclusion from the mainstream
of Nigeria’s socioeconomic and political
activities. The majority of the people
in the delta live on the margins. Reducing
exclusion and achieving more evenhanded
development will depend on the empowerment
of socially marginalized groups and
individuals, stronger social institutions and
infrastructure, and the development of the
capacity of existing local groups.
Agenda Five:
Promote enviromental sustainability
to preserve the means of people’s
Alfred S. Fawundu
Officer-In-Charge
sustainable livelihoods.
The mainstreaming of environmental
sustainability into all development activities
must be complemented by proactive
steps to conserve natural resources; to reduce
pollution, especially from oil spills and
gas flares; and to set and achieve adequate
targets for clean air and water and soil fertility.
These should be backed by rigorous
enforcement of environmental laws and
standards.
Agenda Six:
Take an integrated approach to
HIV&AIDS.
Strong advocacy from top policy makers
should be coupled with public awareness
campaigns on the multidimensional nature
of HIV&AIDS and public education on
the laws against some risky traditional
practices. State and local governments, the
NDDC, oil companies, other private sector
enterprises, NGOs and donors should
collectively improve the quality and
accessibility of health care and HIV&AIDS
facilities and equipment, and institute
actions to curb the epidemic.
Agenda Seven:
Build sustainable partnerships for the
advancement of human development.
Many stakeholders must work together to
achieve meaningful change. All levels of
government and the NDDC, the oil companies,
the organized private sector, civil
society organizations and development
agencies should form partnerships around
plans for sustainable development and the
attainment of the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs).
The analysis and policy recommendations of this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) or its Executive Board. It is an independent report commissioned by
UNDP, Nigeria. The report is an outcome of a survey on human development outcomes in the Niger Delta
region under the leadership of a research institute led by people from the region.
NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT