GOVERNMENT NEGLECT AND MILITANCY IN BAYELSA STATE: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (2011-2021)

Abstract

This research is on Government Neglect and Militancy in Bayelsa State: Implications for Sustainable Development. The specific objectives are to: investigate the extentcorruption has exacerbated pipeline vandalization in Bayelsa State; examine how environmental neglect has resulted in kidnapping in Bayelsa State; examine the extent unemployment has resulted in hostage taking in Bayelsa State and investigate the extent poor infrastructural development has caused bunkering in Bayelsa State. Research hypotheses: there is a significant relationship between corruption and pipeline vandalization in Bayelsa State; there is a significant relationship between environmental neglect and kidnapping in Bayelsa State; there is a significant relationship between unemployment and hostage-taking in Bayelsa State and there is a significant relationship between poor infrastructural development and bunkering in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study centres on  government neglect and militancy in Bayelsa State with the implications on sustainable development in Bayelsa State. The study covers the entire eight (8) local government areas of Bayelsa State. The sample size for the study is eight hundred (800). The study found that: corruption has exacerbated pipeline vandalization in Bayelsa State; environmental neglect has resulted in kidnapping in Bayelsa State; unemployment has resulted in hostage taking in Bayelsa State and poor infrastructuraldevelopment has increased bunkering in Bayelsa State. Based on the findings the following recommendations were made: the existing laws on corruption in Bayelsa State should include a life sentence for corrupt government officials and individuals found wanting in corruption; the multi-national oil prospecting companies must ensure that they rehabilitate and amelioratethe hazards from oil and mining exploration during and after their activities as a result of health and environmental effects in the course of their operations; government should foster job creation and organize training schemes to train youth in the region and Bayelsa State in different vocations to enable them to be industrious and self-employed; and the governmentand existing multinational oil companies (MNOCS) in Bayelsa State should embark on robust infrastructural development that will have direct positive socio-economic impact on the people of the state.