EFFECTS OF NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION INFRASTRUCTURAL PROGRAMME ON THE LIVELIHOOD ACTIVITIES OF BENEFICIARIES IN NIGER DELTA STATES, NIGERIA

Abstract

The dearth of infrastructure has been the bane of livelihood and sustainable economic development in Nigeria. This is particularly true for the Niger Delta Region in Nigeria which have suffered so much of ecological degradation and human depravity as a result of many years of oil exploration without corresponding development strategies. However, the emergence of Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC) was government response to solving the socioeconomic difficulties in the Niger Delta Region. This Study therefore investigated the Effects of Niger Delta Development Infrastructural programmes on the Livelihood activities of Beneficiaries in Niger Delta States, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was used in selecting 300 respondents for this study through the use of structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Data was analyzed with the use of frequency, percentages, charts, mean statistics, chi square, correlation Coefficient and t-test. The result revealed that majority (61%) of the respondents were males and married (78%).The average ages of the respondents was 41 years old with an average household size of 5persons. The result also showed that majority of the respondents (97.9%) had formal education. About 52% of the respondents, were involved in non-farm and trading activities. Majority (69.3%)of the respondents were aware of the infrastructural projects of the NDDC, while the projects are at varying levels of completion (on-going, completed, and abandoned). On the road project, 60.8% of the projects had been completed, 11.6% are on-going, and 19.6% of the roads are abandoned. The result further revealed that 68.8% of the health infrastructures had been completed, 56.3% of the Water Scheme have been completed, 69.9% of the electrical projects have been completed and 79.0%of the Educational project (building of schools, renovation) have been completed. On reasons for project abandonment, more than half (55.6%)of the respondents agreed that poor supervision by NDDC officials were responsible. The major livelihood activities of the respondents in the study area were trading (72%)and farming (59%).The findings revealed that NDDC roads and waterways, educational, and health infrastructures had high effects on livelihood activities of beneficiaries while electricity and water schemes had low effects on livelihood activities. About 48% of the respondents had an increase as a result of provision of roads and waterways infrastructure. The major constraints to NDDC Projects implementation were, Lack of plans for Quality maintenance((𝑋−=3.49), Target Beneficiaries based on oil production by communities ((𝑋−=2.95), poor project Quality ((𝑋−=2.87), and lack of community ownership((𝑋−=2.49).The result further revealed that the major way of improving project implementation was through coordinated maintenance culture, effective monitoring and supervision. There was significant association between sex ((𝑋−=4.377; p=0.03), educational facilities ((𝑋−=25.276; p=0.000), level of education ((𝑋−=17.95; p=0.012) and awareness of NDDC infrastructures. The T- test result shows no significant difference in the income of beneficiaries from livelihood activities of farming, fishing boat making and trading before and after NDDC intervention. The partial Correlation analysis result, showed that there was no relationship between the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents and constraints to implementation of NDDC. It was concluded that some of the infrastructures provided by NDDC, had high effects on selected livelihood activities of beneficiaries. The study therefore recommended that there should be an enhanced supervision and monitoring of the NDDC projects by the NDDC Management in order for enhanced sustainability and improved standard of living.