EFFECT OF NIGER DELTA DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SELECTED HOST COMMUNITIES IN CROSS RIVER STATE, 2010-2023

Abstract

This study sought to examine the extent to which NDDC has contributed to provision of quality roads in the host Communities in Cross River State; To ascertain the extent to which NDDC has created jobs for the teeming unemployed youths Ascertain the extent to which NDDC has improved healthcare facilities for people in the study area; and investigate the extent to which NDDC has improved access to safe drinking water for people in the host communities in Cross River State. Participatory theory propounded by McAdle (1989) was adopted as the theoretical framework of the study. Content analysis method was used to analyze the data generated from secondary sources. The paper found that NDDC has not made significant impact on socio-economic development of selected communities in Cross River State, especially in the areas of construction of roads, job creation, healthcare facilities and provision of safe source of drinking water for the people. However, factors such as sharp corrupt practices among the officials of NDDC, non-inclusion of the beneficiaries in the formulation and implementation of projects, inadequate funding, poor monitoring and supervision are the impediments to NDDC's programme implementation in Cross River State. The researcher therefore recommended among other things that Contractors who abandoned their projects especially the road projects should be forced to get back to the sites and complete them or face legal actions including black listing of their various companies to serve as deterrence to others; NDDC should increase efforts towards building of skill acquisition centre in order to improve job skills of youths in the area and reduce the level of unemployment; and there is also need to improve healthcare services in the study are; hospitals should adequately be equipped for effective dispensary of drugs to the people especially the vulnerable.