To accelerate the development of the region, the Board of Trustees of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) canvasses the establishment of South-South Development Commission (SSDC) and renaming of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to former Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) since other states outside the Niger Delta are included in development projects under the commission. The group also urged the Federal Government and responsible Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to revamp ailing and abandoned seaports infrastructure in Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Onne, Sapele, Burutu and Koko ports and build new dry (inland) ports to create jobs, reduce insecurity and boost socio-economic activities in the region, among other demands
By Edu Abade
The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the South-South apex socio-political group, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has canvassed the establishment of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) through legislation to further accelerate the development of the geo-political zone.
A former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Co-Chairman of the BoT, Obong Victor Attah, made the demand after an emergency meeting in Abuja to discuss urgent matters of national concern and of prime interest to the Niger Delta zone.
The meeting, which was well attended by a broad spectrum of the political, economic and social leadership of the region, included several former governors, former members of the National Assembly, former ministers, retired service chiefs and other national leaders were in attendance.
Several chairmen of councils of traditional rulers from the six states of the South-South, National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador (Dr.) Godknows Igali, as well as members of the National Executive and representatives of women and youth groups all attended the summit.
Insisting that the South-South is in dire need of greater development, the group commended the governors of the region for their efforts in working towards sustainable development of the area, despite the very difficult terrain and environmental circumstances which most of them have to grapple with.
In a communiqué signed by its National Spokesman, Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini, PANDEF observes with great concern the fact that the Bill for the establishment of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC) which, after its passage by the National Assembly was submitted at the same time as others to the President, is yet to be signed into law.
“We subscribe to the desire for a development commission for the six geographic zones of the country without exception and therefore, view the withholding of assent as a grave oversight or error, capable of creating a feeling of exclusion and dejection on the part of the people of the South-South.
“Failure to sign the Bill leaves the South-South region orphaned within the broader context of regional development commissions, which include the North East Development Commission (NEDC), North West Development Commission (NWDC), South-West Development Commission (SWDC), South-East Development Commission (SEDC), North Central Development Commission (NCDC), all of which are now legal entities.
“The non-signing of the law could have a negative impact on the present state of peace which exists in the Niger Delta and the favourable environment, which it creates for the upsurge in the production of oil and gas in the country,” the communiqué reads.
The PANDEF BoT, therefore, urged the President to remedy the oversight which has resulted in the delay to assent to the Bill and sign it without delay, maintaining: “This is only fair and just manner of treating the South-South geopolitical zone as bona fide citizens of this country who deserve not to be discriminated against.”
It also demanded a reversal of NDDC (which could become a misnomer) to its earlier designation as Oil Mineral Production Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC).
Attah reminded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that the NDDC was established by law in 2000 to mitigate specific issues targeting oil mineral producing communities and to create an enabling environment for hitch-free oil and gas exploration activities in the host communities hence the commission has its specific funding formula and modus operandi.
It further argued that, whereas the Niger Delta region has a definite geographic boundary, the membership of the NDDC has extended beyond this boundary to include other oil producing states such as Abia, Imo and Ondo, among others, with the possibility of extending further to include other states in future.
The group, therefore, recommended that NDDC’s name should be reversed to prevent any confusion between it and the other regional development commissions and especially the SSDC when eventually created, all of which are directed at creating inclusive national development irrespective of their production of natural resources, hence their location within the Ministry of Regional Development, which is now headed by Engineer Abubakar Momoh.
It maintained that signing the South-South Development Commission Bill will promote broader regional development in the area to complement the work of the NDDC, especially under the Board and Managing Director, Dr. Sammy Ogbuku.
PANDEF also urged the Federal Government and responsible Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure an urgent and immediate upgrade of the moribund infrastructure of all seaports and embark on the building of new dry inland ports in the region.
The move, it said, would boost socio-economic activities and create millions of jobs in the region, enhance deeper integration within the region, deepen government’s diversification and Renewed Hope Agenda and ultimately contribute to the revenue generation potential of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government.
Attah said: “PANDEF observes with great concern the fact that despite the emphasis of the present administration on development of marine and blue economy including the decision to construct new dry (inland) ports, all similar infrastructure in the South-South are abandoned and non-functional.”
Lamenting that the Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Onne, Sapele, Burutu and Koko Ports, among others have remained comatose for decades, the group urged the Federal Government to revisit the matter and accord new attention to revamping the existing ports in the Niger Delta states, which occupy the larger portions of Nigeria’s coastline and have what it described as natural comparative advantage.
Attah assured that in a move devoid of politics and self-centeredness, leaders of the region, with the support of other critical stakeholders, will commence a deep study of the internal and external factors responsible for the low performance of the existing ports in the Niger Delta.
The group further sought the President’s understanding to show greater interest in working with governors of the South-South to develop other new ports in the various states of the region in the overall interest of the national economy and to further position Nigeria as a hub for robust blue economy in West and Central Africa.
During the meeting, the group also discussed vexing issues in the oil and gas sector, lamenting that the recent decision of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) to join some private investors to develop five new LNG, CNG and LPG complexes with none in the Niger Delta, where the gas for most of these activities will come from, was a misnomer.
“Apart from the fact that this negates all known economic parameters on locating industries close to sources of raw materials, it gives credence to the long standing agitation on the fact that NNPC and its management continue to pursue unfair policies towards the South-South zone.
“We, therefore, plead with the President to direct the NNPC to redress this situation and equally accelerate similar investments in the Niger Delta which should include the setting up of mini refineries in the area. PANDEF again urges President Tinubu to appoint South-South indigenes, most of who are ably qualified into top positions in the national oil company, NNPC, a situation that could have prevented such insensitive decisions,” the group stated.
PANDEF also enjoined governors and private sector players in the South-South to show more interest in active participation in Gas development and the Blue Economy of our region, just as it called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to operationalize the use of the gas flares penalty for the benefit of the host communities.
On insecurity in the region, PANDEF stressed the need for Niger Delta people, especially the youth to continue to maintain law and order, insisting that peace remains a necessary factor to give leaders of the region the opportunity to sustain active engagement with the Federal Government on matters of general interest.
“As members of PANDEF, we appreciate and commend President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni. As a regional body, PANDEF remains dedicated to promoting the interest of the Niger Delta people and will continue to restate its commitment to active engagement with the government and other stakeholders to resolve the lingering issues through constitutional means,” it stressed.
