Breaking Barriers to Transformation of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: A Human Development Paradigm

Abstract

The paper is aimed at addressing the formidable challenges to sustainable human development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. The delta’s human development dilemma raises the question of why abundant human and natural resources have had so little impact on poverty in the area particularly, when compared with other oil producing regions in the world. This conundrum serves as the driving force for this study. The paper revealed that the conditions of rural communities where crude oil is produced are deplorable, with severe environmental degradation and no access to safe drinking water, electricity and roads. It however recommended a new development paradigm which is people-centered, to address these concerns and proposed a nine-point development agenda for the region. The imperatives of a new development agenda rises from the fact that past development planning efforts have failed to adequately address the region’s needs.