By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has asked President Bola Tinubu to assent to the South-South Development Commission Bill to attract massive social and economic development to the oil-rich region.
The group said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should not be under the Ministry of Regional Development Commission.
It also demanded a reversal to its old name, the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC)
PANDEF made the call through a communique its National Spokesperson, Olorogun Obiuwevbi Ominimini, read yesterday at a news conference in Abuja.
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PANDEF, in the communique, called on President Tinubu for the sake of justice, equity, and fair play, to appoint the next chief executive of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) from the Niger Delta region.
The oil-rich region group noted that the challenges confronting people in the region could be effectively tackled if the various intervention policies and programmes were monitored.
PANDEF argued that the assent to the South-South Development Commission bill would promote broader regional development in the area to complement the work of the NDDC,
The group commended the governors of the South-South region for their untiring efforts in promoting the area’s sustainable development despite the very difficult terrain and environmental circumstances that many of them face.
Part of the communique read, “We observe with great concern that the Bill for establishing the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), which, after passage by the National Assembly, was submitted at the same time as others to Mr. President, is yet assented to.
“We subscribe to the desirability of having a development commission for all the six geographic zones of the country without exception.
“We therefore view this 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.
“The non-assent of this Bill leaves the South-South region orphaned within the broader context of regional development commissions.
“The non-signing of this law could hurt 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.
“PANDEF Board Of Trustees, therefore, calls on Mr. President to remedy the oversight which has resulted in the delay to assent to this Bill and sign it without delay.
“It is only fair and just manner of treating the South-South zone as bonafide citizens of this country who deserve not to be discriminated against.”
PANDEF lamented that the Niger Delta region has a definite geographic boundary but that the membership of the NDDC had extended beyond the boundary to include other oil-producing states such as Abia, Imo, Ondo, and others, with a possibility of extending further to include other states in the future.
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The communique added that the PANDEF meeting strongly recommended that the name Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which could become a misnomer, should revert to its earlier designation as Oil Mineral Production Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC).
It noted that this will distinguish it and prevent any confusion between it and the newly created South-South Development Commissions, all of which are directed at creating inclusive national development irrespective of their production of natural resources.
The communique read, “The meeting also discussed issues about the oil and gas sector and noted with regret the recent decision of 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.
“Apart from the fact that this negates all known economic parameters on siting industries close to the source of raw materials, it gives credence to the long-standing agitation on the fact that NNPC and its management continue to pursue very unfair policies towards the South-South zone.
The PANDEF BoT, therefore, calls on Mr. President to direct the NNPC to redress this situation and equally accelerate similar investments in the Niger Delta, which should include the siting of mini refineries within the area.
“PANDEF again urges Mr President to appoint sons and daughters of the South-South, many of whom are ably qualified, into top positions within the national oil company, NNPC, a situation that could have prevented such insensitive decisions.
“PANDEF enjoins state governors and South-South private sector players to show more interest in active participation in Gas development and our region’s blue economy.
“Despite the emphasis of the present administration on the development of marine and blue economy, including the decision to construct new dry (inland) ports, all similar infrastructures in the South-South are abandoned and non-functional.
“These include Port Harcourt Port, Calabar Port, Warri Port, Onne Port, Sapele Port, Burutu Port, and Koko Port, among others.
“PANDEF calls on the Federal Government to revisit this matter and accord new attention to revamping the existing ports in the Niger Delta states that occupy the larger portions of Nigeria’s coastline and have a natural comparative advantage.
“On its part, PANDEF will commence, along with other critical stakeholders, a deep study of the internal and external factors responsible for the low performance of the existing ports in the Niger Delta.
“Additionally, BOT calls on Mr. President to personally show greater interest in working with Governors of the South-South states 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 the blue economy in West and Central Africa.”
