1 NIGER DELTA HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2 Copyright © 2006 United Nations Development Programme, UN House, Plot 617/618, Diplomatic Zone, Central Area District, P.M.B. 2851, Garki, Abuja, Nigeria All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission. 3 Table of Contents Foreword Acknowledgements Overview Chapter One: Introduction Amazing Paradoxes Conceptual Framework Rationale for a Human Development Approach to the Niger Delta Pitfalls of Traditional Development Planning Revenue Allocation The Failure of Governance A History of Resistance A Regime of Reforms and Strategies: NEEDS, SEEDS and LEEDS Methodology: Data Collection Secondary Sources Primary Sources A General Data Problem Where is the Niger Delta? Geography Geology, Relief, Drainage and Ecological Zones Climate The People Settlement Patterns Size Distribution of Settlements Population and Demographic Characteristics Economy International Oil Company Activities Infrastructure and Social Services Conclusion and Preview of the Report Chapter Two: The Human Development Situation in the Niger Delta Poverty in the Niger Delta The Revenue Base of Human Development Governance and Poverty The Challenges of Attaining the MDGs • Assessing Progress The Human Development Indices The HDI for the Niger Delta Region The HP1-1 for the Niger Delta Region 4 Gender Disparities in Human Development The GDI for the Niger Delta Region The GEM for the Niger Delta Region Human Development at the Local Level o The HDI for Local Government Areas o The HPI-1 for Local Government Areas o The GDI for Local Government Areas o The GEM for Local Government Areas Conclusion Chapter Three: Environmental and Social Challenges in the Niger Delta Poverty and Environmental Sustainability The State of the Niger Delta Environment Environmental Problems Not Related to Industry Environmental Problems Related to Oil Operations Other Sources of Environmental Problems Social Impacts The Oil Companies and the People Rapid, Uncontrolled Urbanization Loss of Fishing Grounds Land Losses and Shortages Deforestation and Forest Resource Depletion Occupational Disorientation The Influx of People into the Niger Delta Air Pollution and Health Waste Management and Health Impacts on Culture, Traditions and Authority Structures The History of Environmental Management in the Niger Delta Conclusion Chapter Four: HIV&AIDS A Challenge to Sustainable Human Development The Prevalence of HIV&AIDS in the Niger Delta Factors Behind the Epidemic Behavioural Factors Economic Factors Socio-cultural Factors Gender Relationships and HIV&AIDS Biological Factors Government Responses Impacts on Key Sectors A Multidimensional Strategy 5 Conclusion Chapter Five: Conflict and Conflict Management: Towards Sustainable Peace Niger Delta, Yesterday and Today Types of Conflict Intra-community Conflict Inter-community Conflict Inter-ethnic Conflict Communities and Oil Companies Governance and Conflict Economic and Social Costs The Beneficiaries Extra Burdens: Women and Youth Conclusion Chapter Six: Sustainable Livelihoods Livelihood Opportunities and Activities The Informal Sector Multiple Incomes. Small and Medium Enterprises Capital Assets Human Capital Natural Capital Social Capital Infrastructure Economic Growth that Promotes Sustainable Livelihoods The Role of Regional Development Bodies Livelihoods from the Oil and Gas Industry Conclusion Chapter Seven: A Human Development Agenda for the Niger Delta Why a New Approach to Planning? Human Development Scenarios A Human Development Agenda for the Niger Delta Agenda 1: Peace as the Foundation Agenda 2: Governance Based on Genuine Democracy, Participation and Accountability Agenda 3: An Improved and Diversified Economy as the Lever of Progress Agenda 4: Promoting Social Inclusion Agenda 5: The Environment as a Basis for Sustainability Agenda 6: An Integrated Approach to Dealing With HIV&AIDS Agenda 7: Partnerships for Sustainable Human Development Conclusion References 6 Appendices Technical Notes on Human Development Indices 7 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AU African Union CPED Centre for Population and Environmental Development DFID Department for International Development ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States ERML Environmental Resources Management Limited FGM Female genital mutilation GDI Gender-related development index GDP Gross domestic product GEM Gender empowerment measure HDI Human development index HIV/AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome HPI-1 Human development index for developing countries HPI-2 Human development index for selected OECD countries ILO International Labour Organization IMF International Monetary Fund LEEDS Local Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy LGA Local government area MDGs Millennium Development Goals NDBDA Niger Delta Basin Development Authority NDDB Niger Delta Development Board NDDC Niger Delta Development Commission NDES Niger Delta Environmental Survey NDHS National Demographic and Health Survey NEDECO The Netherlands Electrical Company NEEDS National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy NEPAD New Partnership for African Development NGOS Non-governmental organizations OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OMPADEC Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries OSOPADEC Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission PPP Purchasing power parity SEEDS State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy SPDC Shell Petroleum Development Company STD Sexually transmitted disease STI Sexually transmitted infection UAE United Arab Emirates UNAIDS United Nations Joint Programme on HIV and AIDS UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNEP United Nations Environment Programme 8 UNFPA United Nations Population Fund UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund UNIDO United Nations Industrial Development Organization USAID United States Agency for International Development WHO World Health Organization WTO World Trade Organization FOREWORD Over the past four decades, the issues confronting the Niger Delta region have caused increasing national and international concern. The region produces immense oil wealth and has become the engine of Nigeria’s economy. But it also presents a paradox, because these vast revenues have barely touched the delta’s own pervasive local poverty. Today, there are formidable challenges to 9 sustainable human development in the region, including the conflicts over resources among communities, and between communities and oil companies. The delta’s human development dilemma raises the question of why abundant human and natural resources have had so little impact on poverty. Exploring this conundrum is the purpose of this human development report, the first for the Niger Delta. The report is a component of an integrated development programme for the delta region. Its overall objective is to promote sustainable poverty reduction by strengthening local governance and participatory planning, ensuring sustainable use of renewable natural resources and constructing social infrastructure. The report analyses the various dimensions of the human development challenges in the region, with a particular focus on women and youth, and proposes a people-centred development agenda grounded in the region’s natural, human and social capital. The imperative for a new development agenda arises from the fact that past development planning efforts have failed to adequately address the region’s needs. In spite of the efforts of federal and state governments, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and oil companies to enhance the well-being of people in the delta, wide disparities in development outcomes persist, and the region compares poorly with the progress in other oil-producing countries in the world. In many cases, 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. Among the people living there, the results have been disillusionment, frustration about their increasing deprivation and deep-rooted mistrust. This report recommends a new development paradigm to address these concerns. In a seven-point development agenda, it proposes using the region’s vast oil wealth to create an environment that allows people to flourish, live valued and dignified lives, overcome poverty, enjoy a peaceful atmosphere and sustain their environment. The agenda is a people-centred and sustainable framework requiring the involvement of all stakeholders, including local, state and federal governments, the NDDC, the oil companies and the entire private sector, civil society organizations, the people of the region and development partners. The highlights include the following: Agenda One: Promote peace as the foundation for development. There cannot be any meaningful human development without peace. A peace agenda must include education, easier access to justice and a more equitable distribution of resources. Agenda Two: Make local governance effective and responsive to the needs of the people. Governance is very central to achieving meaningful development outcomes. The effectiveness of governance, especially at the local government level, is an issue of serious concern. At the core of promoting