The State and Rural Development in Nigeria

Abstract

Since the mid-1970s, rural development has become an important issue in Nigeria's development policy. At the same time the Nigerian State intervenes decisively in the development process. Aim of this study is to uncover whether this intervention leads to success or failure by reviewing four government projects. 'Operation Feed the Nation' (OFN), and 'The Green Revolution' failed because they neglected the principal actors whose contributions are essential for an agricultural revolution to succeed. The Directorate of Food, Roads, and Rural Infrastructure (DFRRI) is the present government's response to the poverty of most Nigerian rural areas. Although it has achieved some of its goals in some States, the DFRRI should do more than it is doing at present. Finally, the 'Better Life for Rural Women' project, whose functioning hinges entirely on the disposition of the first lady and the wives of State governors, was from the beginning problematic. The conclusion is that most of the rural development programmes of the government have not positively affected the lives of Nigerian rural communities. Ref.