PEACE AND CONFLICT IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION’S INTER- VENTIONS IN ODI, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA BY ADEMOLA VICTOR AKINYOADE Matriculation Number: 118279 BSc Geography and Planning Science (UNAD), MA Peace and Con- flict Studies (Ibadan), Cert. Federalism (Fribourg), PG Dip. Peace Re- search (Oslo), PG Dip. Applied Dual Use Biosecurity Education (Bradford) A thesis in the Peace and Conflict Studies Programme, Submitted to the Institute of African Studies in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY of the UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN MAY 2015 ABSTRACT Development interventions are aimed at promoting positive change, but they can equally have negative impact, especially in conflict-prone contexts. Whereas existing studies on Odi and the Niger Delta at large mainly focused on the history, environ- ment, culture, conflict and security situations, the peace and conflict impact of Nige- rian government‘s socio-economic interventions in the area have not been fully ex- plored. This study, therefore, assessed the Niger Delta Development Commission‘s (NDDC) interventions, to determine their relationship with the Commission‘s man- date, strategies, and community needs; their interactions with the community; and their impact on the dynamics of peace and conflict in Odi, a community that has at- tracted many interventions after the 1999 massacre. The study adopted the grounded theory and case study research designs. Primary and secondary data were collected through key informant and in-depth interviews, official documents and non-participant observation. Fifty-four key informant interviews were conducted with seven members of the Traditional Ruling Council and the Community Development Committee, six religious leaders, five women leaders, five Youth Coun- cil executives, 24 project beneficiaries, 12 NDDC staff, and five NDDC consultants. Forty-seven in-depth interviews were also held with six school teachers, ten politi- cians, and two law enforcement agents in Odi, five international/non-governmental organisations staff, six activists, and eight academics and professionals. The Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan, the NDDC Act, and website contents were consulted. Non-participant observations were carried out at NDDC project sites in Odi. The data gathered were content analysed. The NDDC integrated development strategy correlated with NDDC‘s mandate and people‘s needs. However, the Commission, in implementing its interventions, contra- vened some of its articulated guiding principles and policies like promoting good gov- ernance, transparency, participatory decision-making, and impact assessment. Also, inadequate community consultation caused dissonance in NDDC‘s and community‘s prioritisation of needs. Moreover, due to inadequate consideration for peace and con- flict sensitivity, the interventions produced series of positive and negative impact on peace and conflict dynamics in Odi. Construction of roads and educational facilities, rural electrification and training in modern agricultural practices impacted positively on the structural causes of conflict. They brought federal government‘s presence to Odi; provided income for male youths employed as labourers and for construction ma- terials‘ suppliers as well as capacity building in modern agricultural practices. How- ever, the community perceived the NDDC interventions as resources and competed for in a socio-political environment characterised by pervasive corruption and bad gov- ernance. This provided sufficient conditions for spirals of negative consequences that ultimately reduced the overall effectiveness of the interventions. The negative impact included entrenching corruption in intervention cycle, power disequilibrium between NDDC and Odi community, oppression and division, and gender inequality, commu- nal conflicts, and apathy. The Niger Delta Development Commission‘s interventions, intended for positive change, also had many negative consequences in Odi because the Commission failed to mainstream peace and conflict sensitivity in the interventions. The NDDC should therefore adhere strictly to its guiding principles and policies as well as international i best practices in intervention programming in order to maximise the positive and minimise the negative impacts of its interventions. Keywords: Peace and conflict impact assessment, intervention programme, Niger Delta Development Commission, Odi. Word count: 499 ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank GOD ALMIGHTY, the Giver of life, the Alpha and Omega, for enabling me to com- mence and complete this work. He supported me all the way. I also express sincere gratitude to my supervisor, Professor Isaac Olawale Albert for his su- pervision and mentorship throughout the period of this study. My research and intellectual capacity have significantly appreciated under his tutelage. His inspirational comments ignited in me the desire to critically look at PCIA methodologies from which the desire to theorise was birthed. I also thank my former supervisor, Professor Rotimi Suberu. My sincere grati- tude goes to my external examiner, Professor Eddy Erhagbe, and my internal-external exam- iner, Professor C.B.N. Ogbogbo for their critical and insightful comments on the work. I ap- preciate the contributions of Professor Aderonke Adesola Adesanya for her mentorship and guidance during the course of my doctorate work. She provided critical comments (in 2012) on the first draft of the gender aspect of this work. My sincere gratitude also goes to my internal-external examiner, Professor C.B.N. Ogbogbo and faculty members of the Institute of African Studies who contributed in various forms to the work. Dr Willie Eselebor stood in for my supervisor who was unavoidably ab- sent at my post-field presentation, Dr Danjibo, Dr Aluko, Dr Sola Isola, Dr Samuel, and Dr Stephen Faleti made inputsto the work, especially the abstract. Appreciation is due to Dr Ji- moh (the Sub-Dean) for his hard work, selflessness, and commitment to ensuring that the ab- stract and viva were accomplished. I thank Professor Olajumoke Olasehinde-Williams for her motherly concern. As well, thanks to my uncle, Professor Depo Akintayo, of Faculty of Edu- cation, University of Ibadan for his fatherly support. My heartfelt gratitude goes to members of my family; my wife, Patience Akinyoade, for love and support; my dad,, Mr Bayo Akinyoade and mum, Mrs Deborah Akinyoade; my siblings and their spouses: Mr and Mrs Femi and Adeola Ogunrin, Pastor Deon and Tola Ak- intomide, Mr and Mrs Bimbo and Nike Akinyoade, and Dr Seun and Barrister Femi Ogun- nubi for their patience, endurance, moral, spiritual and financial support throughout the pe- riod of my doctoral work. I also thank my half-brothers: Messrs Biodun, Sikiru, Afeez and Akeem Akinyoade for their moral support. Immense thanks also go to my second mum (mum in-law does not capture our relationship; you are more than an in-law), ASP Mary Otonoku (mum in-law does not capture our relationship; you are more than an in-law). As well, I ap- preciate siblings on my wife‘s side: Moses Audu, Elisabeth Audu, Michael Otonoku, Maria Otonoku and Miracle Otonoku. My heartfelt gratitude also goes to Mummy Elizabeth Baje and Reverend Edward Audu. And to friends on the PhD quest, notably, Tunde Raji (Tula), Dr Doyin Omibiyi, Dr Adeola (TJ) Adams, Dr Sola Ojo, Dr Emmanuel Chukwunta, Uncle Kay George, Messrs Douglas Adeola, Hammed Hamzat, and Hugo Victor, all in Peace and Con- flict Studies. iii Similarly worthy of appreciation for their contributions and support are Professor Oluyemisi Obilade (Vice-Chancellor, Tai Solarin University) and Dr Toyin Mejuini (Associ- ate Professor in the Department of Continuing Education, Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife). My participation in their gender research, advocacy and pro- grammes broadened my understanding of gender issues. I thank them for reading the first draft on gender and making very useful comments. Equally worthy of appreciation are other faculty members in the Faculty of Education, Obafemi Awolowo University, especially those of the Department of Continuing Education with whom I had formal and informal interac- tions, and who encouraged me on the work. They include Dr Akande, Dr Bola Fayomi, Dr Joke Babalola, and Mrs Dolapo Aderinto. Others in the faculty are Dr Tayo Subair, Dr Bola Akinade and Mr Azeez. I am grateful to Professor Lai Erinosho and Professor M.J. Kuna for introducing me to qualitative research during the CODESRIA methodology workshop in the University of Ibadan in 2008 and their continued mentorship since then. I am indebted to friends, colleagues and senior colleagues in Salem University, Lokoja, Kogi State. Professor Paul Omojo Omaji, the Vice-Chancellor and Professor Silas Sunday Dada, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor who told me over and over again, ‗‗Victor go and finish your PhD‘‘ I thank God I eventually did. I also thank him for his encouragement and mentorship at Salem University. Mrs Molade Toluhi, Messrs Adejoh Haruna, Soje Benedict, Kehinde Aregbesola, Jonathan Ekpudu, Mrs Regina Osugi, Mrs Precious Afolabi, and Mr Akinyemi. I will not forget Rev and Pastor Wisdom Osiri. Immense gratitude is due to all in my Afe Babalola University connection —Dr An- thony Agbegbedia, Dr Yemi Ademowo, Mr Tunde Oyinloye, Dr Ademola Azeez, and Dr Emmanuel A. Ayodeji. My superiors in ABUAD are duly appreciated for their constant en- couragement. They are Dr Durotoye, my immediate predecessor