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

Map 2.11: Map of the Niger Delta Region Showing the Spatial Correspondence Between Ecology and GDI Index
Map 2.13 shows the spatial pattern of
GEM scores in relation to the ecological
zones. In the dry land zone, localities in
Edo, Imo and Ondo states have predominantly
high GEM scores; those in Abia,
Akwa Ibom and Cross River states have
medium scores; those in Delta State are
mostly in the low GEM class. In the swamp
land zone, local government areas in Rivers
State tend to have high GEM scores;
Bayelsa’s localities are in the medium category;
those in Delta South are in the low
GEM category. The scores appear to reflect
administrative (state) subdivisions
rather than ecological zones, evidence of
differences in relevant policies and activities
between states.
Map 2.14 shows the relationship between
oil facilities and the GEM. Imo and Rivers
states show a strong correspondence
between the presence of oil facilities and
high GEM scores. The reverse is the case
in Delta State, while Bayelsa is somewhere
in between. This indicates that oil facilities
do not guarantee higher levels of gender
empowerment.
CONCLUSION
It has not been easy to come up with consistently
accurate and valid data to analyse
poverty trends in the Niger Delta. Available
data from different sources are sometimes
contradictory. The accuracy of most
is in doubt, as they do not seem to reflect
the obvious realities on the ground. Still,
the foregoing analyses of poverty and the
human development situation in the Niger
Delta clearly paint a grim picture reflecting
the almost total failure of governance
at all levels.
Poverty is multidimensional, but some of
the more important dimensions relevant
to the Niger Delta do not feature among
those usually included in the computation
of human development indices. Therefore,
analysis based on these indices does not
tell the whole story of the region’s human
development. In subsequent chapters of
this report, every effort is made to address
the social, political, economic and
environmental issues of greatest concern
70 NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT