By Edu Abade
Apex socio-political group in the South-South geopolitical zone, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged the Federal Government and responsible Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure an urgent and immediate upgrade of the moribund infrastructure of all seaports and embark on the building of new dry inland ports in the region.
The move, it said would boost socio-economic activities and create millions of jobs in the region, enhance deeper integration within the region, deepen government’s diversification and Renewed Hope Agenda and ultimately contribute to the revenue generation potential of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government.
This was the resolution of the board of trustees of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) at the end of its emergency meeting in Abuja during which the group discussed urgent matters of national concern and of prime and particular interest to the Niger Delta zone.
Speaking at the meeting, a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Co-Chairman of the BoT, Obong Victor Attah, said: “PANDEF observes with great concern the fact that despite the emphasis of the present administration on development of marine and blue economy including the decision to construct new dry (inland) ports, all similar infrastructure in the South-South are abandoned and non-functional.”
Lamenting that the Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Onne, Sapele, Burutu and Koko Ports, among others have remained comatose for decades, the group urged the Federal Government to revisit the matter and accord new attention to revamping the existing ports in the Niger Delta states, which occupy the larger portions of Nigeria’s coastline and have what it described as natural comparative advantage.
Attah assured that in a move devoid of politics and self-centeredness, leaders of the region, with the support of other critical stakeholders, will commence a deep study of the internal and external factors responsible for the low performance of the existing ports in the Niger Delta.
The group further sought the President’s understanding to show greater interest in working with governors of the South-South 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 robust blue economy in West and Central Africa.
In the communiqué endorsed by its National Spokesman, Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini, the group meeting also discussed issues pertaining to the oil and gas sector, lamenting that the recent decision of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (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 was a misnomer.
“Apart from the fact that this negates all known economic parameters on locating industries close to sources of raw materials, it gives credence to the long standing agitation on the fact that NNPC and its management continue to pursue unfair policies towards the South-South zone.
“We, therefore, plead with the President to direct the NNPC to redress this situation and equally accelerate similar investments in the Niger Delta which should include the setting up of mini refineries in the area. PANDEF again urges President Tinubu to appoint South-South indigenes, most of who are ably qualified into top positions in the national oil company, NNPC, a situation that could have prevented such insensitive decisions,” the group stated.
PANDEF also enjoined governors and private sector players in the South-South to show more interest in active participation in Gas development and the Blue Economy of our region, just as it called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to operationalize the use of the gas flares penalty for the benefit of the host communities.
On insecurity in the region, PANDEF stressed the need for Niger Delta people, especially the youth to continue to maintain law and order, insisting that peace remains a necessary factor to give leaders of the region the opportunity to sustain active engagement with the Federal Government on matters of general interest.
“As members of PANDEF, we appreciate and commend President Tinubu for establishing the Federal University of Environmental Technology in Ogoni. As a regional body, PANDEF remains dedicated to promoting the interest of the Niger Delta people and will continue to restate its commitment to active engagement with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to resolve the lingering issues through constitutional means,” it stressed.
