A Nigerian project management expert, Richard Ubani, has called for a more inclusive and strategic approach to infrastructure development in resource-rich areas, warning that failure to address local concerns often leads to conflict.
Speaking from years of experience in construction and oil and gas operations, Ubani said many large-scale projects in regions like the Niger Delta risk fuelling unrest if they do not adequately engage host communities or account for local socio-political dynamics.
Ubani, who has worked extensively on major energy infrastructure projects, observed that resource-driven conflicts are often the result of exclusionary practices and broken promises, rather than the presence of natural wealth itself.
“Communities feel sidelined from the benefits of these developments,” he noted, “and where there is poor communication or a history of environmental neglect, distrust quickly festers into open protest or sabotage.”
In regions such as the Niger Delta, he said, the challenges are well known: unfulfilled corporate social responsibility (CSR) promises, competition among youth groups for contracts and jobs, and longstanding resentment towards oil companies. These issues are frequently worsened by a lack of direct dialogue between project managers and residents.
To address these tensions, Ubani has developed what he describes as a five-point strategy for conflict-sensitive project design. It includes early engagement with all stakeholder groups, including those typically marginalised; transparent communication of project timelines and risks; collaboration with credible local partners; aligning CSR initiatives with project milestones; and establishing fast-response channels for community grievances.
He cited a recent pipeline infrastructure project as a successful case study. By conducting focus group discussions, adjusting construction timelines to avoid clashing with farming seasons, and honouring local employment agreements, the project moved forward without any major incidents.
“The client was so impressed by the results that our community engagement model has now been adopted across their future sites,” Ubani said.
He believes that project managers must evolve from technical executors into strategic mediators who understand the cultural and political terrain of the regions in which they operate. When implemented thoughtfully, infrastructure projects, he added, can serve as vehicles for peace and development, rather than flashpoints for division.
Ubani’s intervention comes at a time when Nigeria is increasingly looking to leverage its resource wealth to drive growth, even as tensions remain in many oil-producing areas. His approach suggests that sustainable development in such contexts requires more than engineering expertise—it demands political sensitivity and community trust.
