Impact of Niger Delta Development Commission Public Utility Projects towards communities In Imo State Nigeria

This research explored the Impact of Public Utility Projects mainly roads, water and electricity sponsored by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on selected Communities in Imo State Nigeria. It discussed the emergence of the Commission, the master plan, the environmental conditions in the region which led to the setting up the commission with mandate for regional development, eradication of poverty and regeneration of the region through the provision of the basic infrastructural utilities. The study tried to understand if these projects were the needs of the communities, the impact of these projects, and identify the problems faced by these projects. The participatory theory and the holistic theory were used to highlight the assumptions of the study. Mixed method research was used, and data analyzed using the SPSS version 20. Secondary data collected from books, magazines, journals, newspapers and other publications were used as indicated in the quoted references. The importance of the study was that it examined the relevance of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the selected communities. The finding shows that the roads, water and electricity projects have significant impact on these host communities, 73.6% indicated that these projects were needed, but only 57.5% said they were benefiting from NDDC projects. Looking at the proportionate distribution of the participants benefits on the particular projects they are benefiting from, greater percentage of the proportion (27.9%) are benefiting from roads while 21.2% and 17.7% are benefiting from water and electricity respectively, this gives a total of 66.8%. The communities explained that before the NDDC roads, they used to trek many kilometers as the roads were muddy and not motorable but with these newly constructed roads they can enter buses to their destinations. The economic impacts of the projects were explained in their increase in income. Before the projects, the farmers could not bring their products out for sale but now they can transport their products to the markets and make higher income. With the electricity and good roads, the artisans could handle more works and so other professionals. On average, there was more than 50% increase in their monthly income. The women and their siblings now spend less time fetching drinking water as the boreholes are closer instead of trekking long distance to the streams; this has saved a lot of time which they now utilize in other productive activities. Good drinking water has improved health of the communities by reducing incidents of water diseases like cholera, diarrhea etc. and modern toilet facilities are now in use and improved the general sanitation of the communities. The communities now less frequently go to hospital and cases of water borne diseases have reduced drastically according to the respondents. This research contends that the NDDC completed public utility projects on roads, water and electricity in the selected communities have really improved the life of the people. However, the non-completed projects need to be completed as to increase their benefits. The study will help the Nigerian government, policy makers, the stake holders and the general public to see the need to complete the remaining projects since it is increasing the communities’ standard of living. Also the study would help all concerned to formulate and implement strategies including scholarships, youth’s awareness and empowerment that would reduce or eradicate youth’s militancy, oil theft, kidnapping and other illegal activities within the region.

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