Niger Delta Region has a strategic economic importance to the Nigerian State. It is a region with enormous wealth in resources, yet devoid of local prosperity. It produces nearly 85% of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings. Besides the ignoble slave trade of the 18th century, oil production shaped its destiny and that of its people. Ordinarily, such positive role in both National and International economy would suggest commensurate socio-economic development of the region, but oil wealth indeed became a curse to the Niger Delta people. Today, more than 75% of its roughly 35 million inhabitants live below the poverty line of an average of less than $2/day. It is one of the world’s richest sources of oil, but its people lack economic opportunities. These inequalities have in turn led to extreme forms of conflict and a trigger for militancy and cultist’s activities, which have functioned to further erode the region and increase poverty.

Below is the Niger Delta prosperity framework report

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