Exploration of Benefits of NDDC Road Projects on Household Income in Rivers State

Abstract

Development projects that support and improve the socio-economic conditions are essential because they motivate innovations, which in turn create jobs, improve quality of life and sustainable development. This belief prompted the need to evaluate the impact of rural roads on household income. This study proceeded to determine the socio-economic circumstances of the beneficiary and non-beneficiary communities of the road projects. A multistage random sampling was used to select 3007 respondents from the study area. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and propensity score matching technique. The study revealed that households in NDDC road project communities experienced increased income of about N 5,768.437. Based on this, the study recommended that Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should sustain the infrastructural development particularly road projects by increasing the annual budget provisions. Research efforts need to be carried out in other states of Niger Delta Region to ascertain the benefits of rural development projects.  It is therefore important to further ascertain the influences of other development projects on socio-economic conditions in Rivers State. The study provides an empirical analysis of the benefits of rural road projects such as that of NDDC projects across Rivers State on the income of households. It also raised the questions what is a sustainable level of impact on average household income? Could the impact have been higher if adequate needs analysis has been carried out prior to the road construction?

Keywords: Propensity Score Matching, Socio-economic Conditions, Rural Road Projects, NDDC, Income