The Niger Delta Development Monitoring Group (NIDDEMOG) has challenged presidential candidates to present clear plans for addressing the Niger Delta’s infrastructure and environmental challenges.
Key Highlights
- NIDDEMOG asks presidential candidates for concrete Niger Delta development plans.
- The group lists the East-West Road, non-functional refineries, seaports and coastal erosion as priorities.
- It urges South-South governors not to endorse candidates without firm commitments.
- It wants the 13 percent derivation fund raised to 20 percent.
- It calls for oil companies to relocate their headquarters to the region.
According to the group, the abandoned East-West Road project, non-functional refineries, seaports, coastal erosion and environmental degradation are critical issues requiring urgent attention.
Team Lead of NIDDEMOG, Chief Nengi James-Eriworio, made the call in a statement issued on Sunday, amid the commencement of political campaigns.
He urged presidential candidates to move beyond political controversies and personal attacks and present concrete proposals for regional development, economic prosperity and empowerment.
Governors Warned Against Blind Endorsements
James-Eriworio also cautioned governors in the South-South against endorsing candidates without securing firm commitments to address the region’s longstanding challenges.
He said political endorsements should translate into measurable federal interventions in road infrastructure, seaports, refineries, coastal protection and environmental remediation.
The NIDDEMOG leader expressed concern that presidential candidates were not giving sufficient attention to the development priorities of the Niger Delta.
He cited controversies surrounding the proposed coastal road as evidence of what he described as inadequate engagement with the region’s specific challenges.
James-Eriworio said the Niger Delta’s problems extended beyond oil pipeline surveillance contracts and the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
He criticised the candidates for concentrating on personal attacks and derogatory language instead of addressing climate change, environmental pollution and the development needs of oil-producing communities.
Gas Flaring, Clean-Up Demands
He urged them to present clear proposals for reducing gas flaring, completing the East-West Road and implementing comprehensive coastal protection programmes.
The group also called for the restoration and remediation of oil-producing communities affected by cumulative oil spills, including a proposal to rename the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) as an environmental clean-up agency.
James-Eriworio said he has written to individual presidential candidates, urging them to prioritise the region’s development challenges as political campaigns commenced.
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Coastal Road, 20% Derivation
He maintained that the proposed coastal road addressed a longstanding infrastructure need and should not be dismissed on political grounds.
According to him, the Niger Delta deserves more federal investment in roads, bridges, refineries and seaports in view of its contribution to the nation’s oil revenue.
He also advocated an increase in the 13 percent derivation fund to 20 percent and called for a directive requiring international oil companies operating in the region to relocate their headquarters and functional offices there.
James-Eriworio said an integrated network of roads and bridges would connect coastal communities, improve access to markets and public services, and open up previously inaccessible areas.
He cited proposed road links around Agge and Brass in Bayelsa State, as well as road and bridge connections in the Bonny and Opobo axis of Rivers State, as examples of infrastructure possibilities in difficult coastal terrain.
He urged the federal government to address the deteriorating condition of existing roads, particularly the East-West Road, alongside the construction of new infrastructure.
The NIDDEMOG leader further urged South-South governors to demand clear commitments from presidential candidates on the East-West Road and other development priorities.
He warned that silence and blind party loyalty would not serve the interests of the region or its people.
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