The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has called on presidential candidates to present practical plans for the cleanup, restoration, and sustainable development of communities affected by oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta region. This was part of the resolutions made during a virtual meeting of the Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee. The meeting had in attendance notable stakeholders including Victor Attah, the BOT chairman, and Godknows Igali, the National Chairman of NEC.
PANDEF noted that despite over six decades of oil and gas exploration, Niger Delta communities continue to suffer from environmental degradation, pollution, and damage to their ecosystems and livelihoods. The forum observed that urgent attention is needed to address the environmental situation in Nembe Creek in Bayelsa, Odidi in Delta, and Kula in Rivers. PANDEF assured of its continuous advocacy and engagement with the federal government on environmental protection and remediation.
The forum called for adequate, sustained, and transparent funding of the Ogoni cleanup programme and urged the federal government to develop a comprehensive framework for replicating the remediation process across the Niger Delta. PANDEF also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to modernize and upgrade ports at Warri, Port Harcourt, and Calabar. The forum welcomed the approvals for proposed deep sea port projects in the region, including the Ibom Deep Sea Port in Akwa Ibom, the Bonny Deep Sea port in Rivers, and the Agge Deep Sea port in Bayelsa.
PANDEF noted that the strategic location of these regional ports could strengthen trade links with East, Central, and Southern Africa and facilitate access to the Indian Ocean. The forum urged the federal government to establish a sustainable financing framework for the South-South port projects, comparable to the financing arrangements adopted for major port infrastructural centers around the Lagos corridor.
The forum also discussed the 750 kilometers Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a legacy strategic infrastructure project. PANDEF declared that the accelerated and successful completion of the highway was non-negotiable, arguing that it would boost connectivity across coastal states, stimulate trade and investment, and unlock economic opportunities. The forum set up a high-level technical committee to assist the Federal Ministry of Works on the road project.
PANDEF called for an increase in the derivation allocation from the current 13% to a minimum of 50% to enable oil-producing communities to address long-standing developmental deficits, environmental damage, and health hazards. The forum also called on the federal government, the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, and the National Assembly to address the longstanding issue of the onshore/offshore dichotomy in revenue allocation.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum emphasized the need for a North-South rail connection to link the region for the benefit of the Nigerian people. The forum explained that section 162(2) of Nigeria’s 1999 constitution provided for the allocation of not less than 13% of revenue accruing directly from natural resources to the relevant states, but this provision has remained unchanged for over two decades.
Key points
- Presidential candidates are urged to present practical plans for environmental justice in the Niger Delta region.
- PANDEF calls for an increase in derivation allocation to 50% for oil-producing communities.
- The forum emphasizes the need for a comprehensive framework for the Ogoni cleanup programme and other remediation processes in the Niger Delta.
