THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN

There have been many attempts and many plans made in the past to improve the lives of the people of the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Sadly, each ended with very little to show for the time and resources spent. Therefore, it is understandable that the people of the Niger Delta are quite disillusioned with ‘plans’ at this time. The disenchantment of the people notwithstanding, it must be stated that the Niger Delta Master Plan is different in its goals, focus and approach, and will not suffer the fate of the others before it. 

 

 The Master Plan is basically conceived as a tool that the millions of people of the Niger Delta Region can use to actualize their common vision and build their future to the standard they desire. The Master Plan is designed to offer stakeholders at all levels (individual, group and community) the opportunity to participate fully in the planning and decision-making process. specifically, the coordinating consultants require the ideas and opinions of stakeholders as basis for defining focus areas for development and for producing a vivid picture of what the people want the Niger Delta region to look like within 15 years of the master plan implementation. This implies that the input of stakeholders today is what will determine the state of affairs (both for individuals and communities) in the region tomorrow.

 

The Master Plan, for which satellite mapping had been completed and the resource

consultants appointed, is expected to cover the following areas:

 

1. Demography

2. Environment and hydrology

3. Agriculture and aquaculture (with focus on economic activities)

4. Biodiversity

5. Transport (infrastructure)

6. Rural, urban, regional planning and housing

7. Community Development

8. Governance and capacity development

9. Health

10. Small and medium enterprises

11. Water supply

12. Energy (electricity)

13. Telecommunication

14. Vocational training (with focus on employment generation)

15. Waste management and sanitation

16. Large-scale industry

17. Solid minerals

18. Tourism

19. Social welfare

20. Arts, Sports and Culture,

21. Women and Youth employment

22. Conflict prevention

23. Financial instruments and access

24. Investment promotion