Economic strangulation of Rivers State: the way forward

This is was the theme of a Round Table Discussion that took place on August 9th 2007 organized by the Rivers State Office of the National Orientation Agency.

Key Questions:

1. Is the economy of Rivers State being strangulated?
2. If so, who is responsible?
3. What are the means of strangulation?
4. What are the manifestations?
5. What are the challenges of strangulation?
6. What is the response of the State Government?
7. What is to be done to reverse the situation?

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The following is an outline of the issues raised by a panel of discussants drawn from several constituencies - government, academia, communities, development advisers, NGOs and CSOs.

Problems:

• Security situation - political thuggery and militant agitation for fairer share of oil revenues giving rise to criminal activities (hostage taking, kidnappings, extortion, gun running etc)
• Crises of Leadership and lack of progress in the last 8 years of democratic rule
• Lack of absorptive capacity of the huge resources coming to the State - weak capacity to plan and implement people oriented programmes
• Poor education and curriculum not relevant to the current challenges
• No over-arching economic vision for the State
• Uncoordinated activities of development partners - oil companies, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) etc - leading to duplication and wastage of efforts
  
• Poor infrastructural base not matched by the growing economic status of the State
• Total disconnect between the Oil and Gas industry with the local economy of the State

Way Forward:

• A long-term development framework with targets - the Millennium Developments Goals (MDGs) is suggested
• Good governance linked to effective leadership - a government that is transparent and accountable to the people
  
• Rehabilitate militants and provide them with livelihood skills
• Deal decisively with criminal elements among the militants and tackle the dismal state of insecurity in the State
• Education, education, education
• Facilitate 'home grown' business models supported by the State government
  
• Reconnect the petroleum industry with the economy of the State
• Development partners should buy into agreed State plans rather than go it alone
• Oil companies should transfer 'business competencies' in place of the usual community development projects

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We are providing this blog as a forum to continue the discussion and invite all citizens to get involved in the debate. Please re-visit the questions and try and provide answers to them.