PANDEF Decries Marginalisation, Impoverishment Of Niger Delta Region

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The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called on the federal government to address what it describes as systemic marginalization and impoverishment of the Niger Delta, despite the region’s critical role in sustaining Nigeria’s economy through oil and gas production.

In a statement issued by PANDEF’s National Spokesman, Chief Dr. Obiuwevbi Christopher Ominimini, the group highlighted the inequities in resource management across Nigeria, noting that while the Niger Delta’s oil and gas are treated as national assets, other regions exercise local control over their mineral resources, including gold.

“The gold deposits in Northern Nigeria and other parts of the country are mined and controlled by local elites and foreign nationals, while the oil and gas from the Niger Delta are for the Nigerian state. This selective justice is the root of the injustice in Nigeria,” the statement read.

PANDEF raised concerns about the devastating environmental impact of oil exploitation in the Niger Delta, which has destroyed fishing and farming livelihoods and led to widespread pollution. “Our people cannot fish or farm due to the destroyed ecosystem, and our life span is shortened. Despite this, there is little federal government action to mitigate these issues,” Ominimini said.

The group also condemned the exclusion of Niger Delta people from participating in the oil and gas industry. “The oil blocks are mostly owned by individuals from other regions, and even the two executive positions on the NNPCL board are occupied by Northerners. This exclusion is a clear injustice,” Ominimini added.

PANDEF criticized the government’s crackdown on artisanal oil refineries in the Niger Delta while ignoring illegal mining of gold and other solid minerals in other parts of the country. The group called for a legal framework to support artisanal miners, arguing that it would create jobs, reduce corruption, and foster technological development.

The forum also accused the federal government of failing to ensure transparency in oil production and revenue management. “We do not know the volume of oil and gas taken from our soil because attempts to meter oil flow stations or sales points have been frustrated. This lack of accountability is unacceptable,” Ominimini said.

PANDEF emphasized that addressing the marginalization of the Niger Delta is critical for Nigeria’s progress. “Justice must be holistic. The people of the Niger Delta remain the most impoverished in Nigeria, and this injustice must be addressed without delay,” Ominimini concluded.

The group urged the federal government to implement policies that ensure equitable resource management, environmental restoration, and the inclusion of Niger Delta communities in the oil and gas sector.