Stakeholders Engagement and Project Implementation at Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Stakeholders' involvement is vital in every project aimed at community development. However, the success of a project is sometimes compromised when there is little or no collaboration and partnerships, as well as a lack of commitment by the parties in the course of implementation. This paper examined the effect of stakeholder inclusion in the implementation of the projects implemented by the Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The research adopted a descriptive survey design to evaluate the association that people and organisations portray in terms of organisational engagement, communication, commitment, and help. The population of the study is 251 respondents, which includes local representatives, government employees, CRBDA employees and contractual parties, who were purposively selected using a census sampling method. The main data collection tool was questionnaires, which were filled in by the respondents, as well as secondary data from the CRBDA reports, policy documents and from other written sources. Both the basics of quantitative analysis and the chi-square (χ²) tests were used to handle this data. It becomes clear from the data that a lack of collaboration, leadership and commitment from some stakeholders renders project implementation inefficient, as the parameters also result in delay of the project and wastage of resources that could be avoided. The paper concludes with suggestions for focused attention on decision-making in all aspects, enhanced communication channels, and means of ensuring commitment to developmental activities through capacity building and other positive steps. Such insights are imperative in ensuring that projects are successful, long-lasting and justify the expectations of the stakeholders.