PANDEF has rejected claims by the Arewa Consultative Forum, asserting that only the Niger Delta faces genuine marginalization in Nigeria. Chief Christopher Ominimini emphasized the neglect and environmental devastation due to oil exploration, highlighting disparities in resource control. He argued for the need for a legal framework for artisanal mining to benefit local communities and called attention to systemic injustices that hinder the region’s development.
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has strongly countered claims made by the Arewa Consultative Forum regarding the economic policies negatively impacting the Northern region of Nigeria. In a statement issued by Chief Christopher Ominimini, the National Spokesman of PANDEF, it was asserted that the Niger Delta is the only area in Nigeria that can justifiably claim marginalization and impoverishment. Despite being the source of the nation’s oil wealth, the region suffers from long-term neglect and environmental devastation due to oil exploration and extraction.
Ominimini emphasized that the wealth generated from oil production does not benefit the local communities, which have faced severe pollution of agriculture and water sources. He highlighted a disparity in resource control, noting that while other regions retain revenue from their natural resources, the Niger Delta’s oil revenue is funneled to the Federal Government, which he described as “injustice.”
Furthermore, he criticized the lack of benefits from valuable resources found in Northern Nigeria, claiming they favor local and foreign interests over the nation’s collective prosperity. He questioned the fairness of allowing other regions to manage their resources while the Niger Delta’s oil and gas are state-controlled.
Ominimini remarked, “Selective injustice or justice in a nation usually backfires,” indicating that such disparities hinder national progress. He also linked the insurgency in the North to the illegal mining of solid minerals and criticized governmental actions, including the destruction of local refineries in the Niger Delta while ignoring unlawful operations in the North.
Moreover, PANDEF called on the Federal Government to establish a legal framework for artisanal mining to foster economic opportunities, diminish waste, and combat corruption. Ominimini lamented that residents of the Niger Delta are often uninformed about the quantity of oil extracted, as effective metering remains elusive. There also exists a significant ownership disconnect, with oil block owners predominantly from outside the Niger Delta region.
He harshly described the government’s treatment of the Niger Delta as negligent, proclaiming, “The Nigerian state is wicked to the Niger Delta Region,” emphasizing environmental and health crises linked to oil exploitation. Ominimini expressed disappointment over the lack of accountability and corporate social responsibility from oil companies, ultimately stating that representatives from the Niger Delta are sidelined in decision-making processes.
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) represents the interests of the Niger Delta region in Nigeria, a territory rich in oil resources. Their position on marginalization stems from historical grievances linked to the region’s experiences with exploitation and environmental degradation from oil industry activities. The region has long suffered under policies that favor other regions while neglecting the local communities despite their contribution to the national economy. Recent claims by the Arewa Consultative Forum have prompted PANDEF to reaffirm its stance on the unique struggles faced by the Niger Delta in terms of economic and social marginalization.
In conclusion, PANDEF firmly asserts that the Niger Delta is the sole region in Nigeria experiencing true marginalization and impoverishment. The organization calls for immediate attention to the injustices suffered by the region, emphasizing the need for infrastructural development, equitable resource distribution, and responsive governance to address historical grievances. Failure to adequately address these issues compromises national unity and progress.
Original Source: punchng.com
