Effects of Insecurity on Community Development Projects in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Ahoada East Local Government Areas of Rivers State, Nigeria

The study examined the effects of insecurity on community development projects in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni and Ahoada East Local Government Areas of Rivers State, Nigeria. The study was guided by two research questions and one null hypothesis. The study adopted a descriptive survey design with a population of 3,211 members of various Community Based Organizations in the study areas. A sample of 682 members of various CBOs was selected using the random and proportionate-stratified sampling techniques. Data for this study were collected with the use of a self-designed questionnaire titled “Effects of Insecurity on Community Development Projects Questionnaire (EICDPQ). A correlation index of 0.81 was obtained to determine the reliability of the instrument. Responses to the questionnaire items were analysed with the mean statistics and the hypothesis were tested using the chi square statistics at 0.05 level of significance. The result of the analysed data revealed that the causes of insecurity in the study areas are cult clashes, conflicting political factions, poor distribution of resources, violent resistance to exploitation by government and corporate organizations and neglect of the people. The study therefore, recommended that Government in collaboration with companies operating in this crisis prone areas should engage stakeholders (community leaders, youth leaders and other leaders of Community Based Organizations) in town hall meetings and collectively come up with lasting solutions to these insecurity issues that impede their development. Keywords: Insecurity, Community Development, Projects