Impact of Natural Resource Governance on Socio-Economic Development in Niger Delta’s Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria

This study specifically assessed the impact of natural resource governance on socio-economic development in Niger Delta’s Akwa Ibom State. The investigation focused on examining the relationships between natural resource governance and healthcare services, road infrastructure, and educational facilities respectively in selected oil-producing communities in the area of study. The Resource Curse Theory was adopted as the theoretical framework for the study. A survey research design was employed, while data were collected through structured questionnaire administered to 400 respondents selected from six oil-producing local government areas in Akwa Ibom State. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square statistical technique at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that natural resource governance had significant relationships with access to healthcare services, road infrastructure development, and provision of educational facilities in Akwa Ibom State. The study found that despite substantial oil revenues generated from the region, poor governance practices, corruption, weak institutional frameworks, and inadequate accountability had hindered effective socio-economic development in many oil-producing communities. The study concluded that effective natural resource governance remained essential for sustainable development in the Niger Delta region. The study therefore recommended improved transparency, accountability, community participation, and increased investment in healthcare, road infrastructure, and educational facilities in oil-producing areas.