Published Paper Details:

The study evaluated the process of implementation of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Master Plan in Rivers State, Nigeria from its inception in 2009 to 2019. The study set out to socio-economic impacts of implementation of the Master Plan. In the study, subjects (respondents, 332) were studied in situ without experimental manipulation and at one period in time, i.e. the study adopted a passive-observational research design. The study utilized both primary and secondary data sources. The latter included face-to-face administration of a largely pre-coded household questionnaire to a probability sample of 332 respondents drawn from the three study communities. The study utilizes the Hazard and Effects Management Process. Both forms of assessment revealed that that the implementation of the Master Plan affected among others, traditional occupation s(livelihood), reduction in levels of income and financial flows, increase in level of poverty and rise in inflation in the study area. The study concludes that the negative effects notwithstanding, have led to sprouting of small business, temporary jobs. Recommendations proffered includes (1) that the Government or its Agency (GPHCDA) should ensure that it pays all outstanding compensation to affected community landowners to aid their occupational readjustment,(2) Government should also improve on the available sources of livelihood through the establishment of agro-based and other industries in the area to provide more job opportunities, thereby helping to alleviate poverty,(3) Government should create jobs and improve on the sources of income of the people; and (4)Reduce the level of poverty through the provision of employment opportunities and other empowerment schemes.