Community Participation and Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta

The paper examined community participation and sustainable development in the Niger Delta. The research question addressed the extent at which sustainable development of the Niger Delta and improved welfare of oil producing communities is dependent on their participation in the design and execution of community projects. It assumes that sustainable development of the oil producing communities can best be achieved through their participation in the design and execution of community projects. An exploratory cross-sectional survey research design was used in conducting the study using questionnaire administered on 396 randomly selected respondents from three age brackets (35-39, 40-44 & 45-49) in ten judgmentally selected (based on prominence) oil producing communities in the five most prominent oil producing states of the Niger Delta. The sample size of 396 was determined from a population of 40,568 using Yamane [1] sample size determination formula at 5% level of significance for sampling error. The questionnaire responses were presented using tables, analyzed and interpreted using simple percentages while formulated hypotheses were tested using chi-square (χ2).The results indicated that sustainable development and improved welfare of oil producing communities in the Niger Delta is to a large extent dependent on community participation. The research concludes that community participation in the design and execution of community projects will result in sustainable development and improved welfare of oil producing communities. It therefore recommends among others: enactment of legislation that will compel oil producing companies to stop gas flaring and clean up oil spillages in their host communities, creation of oil/gas heritage savings fund for the survival of oil producing communities in the post oil/gas era, Involvement of local communities in the design and execution of community projects using reputable contractors, establishment of afforestation, pollution control and conservation of natural resources schemes in oil producing communities to replenish damaged natural resources and sustenance of the current amnesty programme.