Contradictory Projection of Development in the South-South States of Nigeria: Implications for Scaling Up and Sustaining Development

Abstract

Niger Delta region is often portrayed as an abysmally underdeveloped region in Nigeria, especially when highly scaled up agitation and struggles that have sometimes assumed bloody dimensions as well as reports and images shown in the media are considered. Conversely, with the exception of the negative effects of the oil explorations in the region, a look at the National Abstract Statistics (ABs) from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicates that the states in the region have more government supplied development facilities than many states in other regions of Nigeria, including states in the Southern parts of the country that are considered to be 'comparatively privileged' in many respects vis-a-vis the UNDP development indicators. The underlying objective of this paper is to highlight difficulties the above contradictions could pose to development planners and development partners that could contribute to the development of the region by providing statistically evidence-based information that highlights the scenario. Using descriptive statistical method, the paper makes a comparative analysis of the NBS statistics on the South-South zone (geographical Niger Delta states) against other zones in the Southern Nigeria and media information on development in the zone, with special attention on healthcare, quality and length of roads, educational institutions and unemployment rates. Observations, from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data indicate that: on the quality and length of roads, number of healthcare facilities and educational institutions provided by government between 2003 and 2008, the North is generally higher than the South. Within the Southern region, South-South records better and are far higher than South-East, and slightly lower than South-West; in the area of unemployment, South-South actually dipped from 35.80% to 43.89% between 2004 and 2008 while South East improved from 37.84% to 23.36% between 2004 and 2008. The paper recommends that policy advocates and all concerned stakeholders should ensure that information and data made available to the public and reported by the media are harmonised to produce evidence-based and statistically authentic information. Such data should be supported by relevant baseline study of individual states, local communities, thematic areas and target groups vis-a-vis comprehensive analysis of life, development imperatives, challenges and opportunities in the zone.