Developing the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria through Community Development Committees (CDCs): A Critical Assessment

Abstract

Democratization and political pluralism is reviewing emphasis on community development through community Development Committees CDCs. It is one strategy adopted by the Niger Delta Development commission (NDDC) in its quest to fast – track development in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria (NDRN). The theoretical lenses of Social Capitalist theory and Asset-Based perspective support this initiative. But analysis of empirical studies in the NDRN on community development reveals some short-comings that ranged from poor leadership, poor project sustainability, and risk of capture to abuse of community development objectives. We argued that without deliberate training they could change leadership practice at the community level and encourage active/effective participation by community members, the on-going advocacy and community-driven development would suffer similar fate.