Conflicts, Sustainable Development And Implications For Agricultural Extension In The Niger Delta, Nigeria
O Chukuigwe
Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
C C Asiabaka
Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Dr Benjamin A Odinwa
Department of Agricultural Extension, Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
Keywords: Conflicts, Sustainable Development, Niger Delta
Abstract
This paper explored the effects of conflict on sustainable development in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The region which is endowed with immense natural resources with high potential for socioeconomic development seems to lag behind as a result of dysfunctional development efforts and conflict. Specifically, some of the socioeconomic characteristics that account for unsustainable development in the study area were identified. The methodology in a multistage selection of 400 sample size which 380 were eventually utilized after discarding 20 for various reasons including inconsistency. Probit regression analytical method was used due to the dichotomous nature of the dependent variables of conflict and sustainable development projects. Other analytical methods such as Spearman Rho correlation index and chow test were applied for confirmatory reasons. Results show that age, education, income, unemployment, sex, nearness to development projects and participation in development projects were significant in both conflicts and sustainable development equations. Secondly, it was also found that conflicts were inversely related to sustainable development. It was therefore suggested that policies directed at improving these variables can reduce conflicts and improve sustainable development