The Niger Delta Development Master Plan describes the process by which the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and all the Region’s stakeholders should progress within the next 15 years. Achievement of the laudable objectives of this Master Plan requires objective assessment of existing development strategy and evaluation of different paradigms or scenarios for the future. It is against this background that the current study was commissioned to assess the social impacts of NDDC sponsored projects and programmes in Edo State; with the aim of making policy recommendations for improved service delivery, based on verifiable empirical evidence.

The study was based on questionnaire administration, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), In-depth Interviews (IDIs), otherwise called Key Informant Interviews and Town Hall Meetings (THMs). National Youth Service Corp members in Edo State were recruited as Field Officers for the project. They were trained on the principles and methods of social survey based on the research instruments designed for the study. After pre-testing, a total of 20 questionnaires were administered in each of the 30 communities selected from each Senatorial District of the state based on simple random sampling technique. However, 60 communities were selected in Edo South Senatorial District since most of the NDDC projects are located there. Three FGDs and IDIs were conducted in each Senatorial District.  Participants at each session included the youths and at least 2 other interest groups.  The chiefs, paramount rulers, clan heads, village heads, youth leaders, women leaders and other opinion moulders were the targets of IDIs. One THM was held per Senatorial District. However, 4 FGDs and IDIs were held Edo South Senatorial District. Global Positioning System (GPS) was utilized to obtain spatial information for the study and these data formed the basis for the production of maps using ArcGIS 9.3 software packages. The questionnaires were analysed based on software package developed for the work by the Lead Consultant.

The results of this study include the following among others:

• About 90% of the people are aware of the development programmes/projects in their communities but about 60% attributed the sponsorship of these projects/programmes to the government while less than 25% of the people are aware that they are sponsored by NDDC
• Over 70% of the NDDC initiatives are completed and working, about 15% are completed and not working while less than 10% are abandoned.
• Overwhelming majority of people agree that these programmes and projects have positive social impacts on their lives. The specific impacts include better living conditions, electricity, access to education, health care facilities, water provision and roads.
• Education seems to be the most important area where the impacts of NDDC has been felt in Edo State.

It is crystally clear from the findings of this study that NDDC has succeeded in uplifting the livelihoods of the host communities in terms of project and programmes, but the implementation strategy has been deficient. Based on this, only about 40% of the respondents rated NDDC high in terms of overall performance. The major systemic problems identified by the people include the following:

• The communities were not consulted in the decision making process leading to selection of the projects/programmes.
• Some of the projects were personalised by the political office holders in the State (for instance, the NDDC tractors in one of the zones are reported to be confined to the farm and compound of a senator)
• Benefitting communities were not involved in the implementation process leading to a situation whereby projects were executed with sub-standard materials and hence shortened life span
•  Lack of monitoring of the projects once they are commissioned (for instance, some of the water projects stopped functioning less than 6 months after commissioning)
• Many of the projects were abandoned after the award of the contract
• Poor community relation with the host communities of the projects; leading to a situation whereby the host communities are unaware that most projects are sponsored by NDDC
• Lack of equipment at the health centres and no furniture in the classrooms constructed

The following policy recommendations were made based on the outcomes of this study:

• Conscientious efforts should be made to inform the host communities about any project or programme sponsored by NDDC. This is with the aim of popularising these initiatives among the people and preventing false claims by politicians at Local, State and Federal levels.

• NDDC should as a matter of urgency open liaison offices in each of the Senatorial Districts in Edo State to address the problem of disconnect between NDDC and the people of the State. It will also assist to address the community relation problem documented in this study.

•  There is a need for a paradigm shift with respect to the top-down approach of project conception and implementation. The various Community Associations and other critical stakeholders should be incorporated into the process. In order to improve the performance rating of NDDC by the people.

• Monitoring and evaluation (M & E) of the NDDC initiatives should be strengthened and designed to go beyond the commissioning phase of the project. Making the existing projects to function may be more rewarding in some cases than executing new ones that may also face the problem of sustainability.

• The issue of sustainability of the projects should be considered at the planning phase. Any project that is not sustainable should not be executed.

• Mechanisms should be developed to avoid a situation whereby NDDC facilities (like tractors), that are meant for the communities would be quarantined in the farm of a political office holder, thereby denying the people the opportunity of enjoying such facilities.

• Independent Consultants should be engaged to evaluate the impacts of NDDC projects and programmes on regular basis. A 5-year time interval is hereby suggested.

It is hoped that most if not all of these recommendation would be be given due consideration.