The Niger Delta : A Stakeholder Approach to Environmental Development

The Niger Delta is one of the world's largest wetlands and includes by far the largest mangrove forest in Africa. Within this extremely valuable ecosystem, oil activities are widespread - Rivers State and Delta State produce 75 percent of Nige...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Singh, J., Moffat, D., Linden, O.
Format: Brief
Language:English
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/1995/12/2685746/niger-delta-stakeholder-approach-environmental-development
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/9981
Description
Summary:The Niger Delta is one of the world's largest wetlands and includes by far the largest mangrove forest in Africa. Within this extremely valuable ecosystem, oil activities are widespread - Rivers State and Delta State produce 75 percent of Nigeria's petroleum, which represents over 50 percent of national government revenues. However, despite its vast oil reserves, the region remains poor. Gross National product (GNP) per capita is below the national average of US$280. Optimal resource and land use in the region is constrained by a lack of development, stagnant agricultural productivity, very limited opportunities in urban areas, rapid population growth, the generally poor health of the expanding population and tenuous property rights. Conflicts have developed between local communities and private and public developers over resource ownership and use, particularly tied to oil activities. This study, Defining An Environmental Development Strategy for the Niger Delta, attempts to move beyond emotive arguments to provide an analytical basis for substantive stakeholder discussion of the most critical environmental and social issues and possible interventions. It offers a comprehensive assessment of the environmental issues in the Delta and resulting social impacts. The report was developed based on an innovative and highly participatory process which emphasized beneficiary consultation and collaboration to ensure local ownership.