The Federal Government has advised militant groups in the oil-rich Niger-Delta region to hold leaders of the region accountable for the deprivations and under-development suffered by oil-producing communities despite the huge resources accruing to oil-producing states.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe, gave the advice yesterday in Port-Harcourt while declaring open a seminar organized by the Niger Delta Development Corporation (NDDC), in collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The SGF said rather than blame the Federal Government alone for failing to solve the development problems plaguing the oil producing region, the militant groups should instead, assess the conduct and performances of their leaders and hold them accountable.
Kingibe said agitations in the Niger-Delta has continued for so long because of the failure of successive governments to genuinely articulate measures to address the various underlying causes that have contributed to make the region volatile.
He explained that despite attempts by past administrations to provide succour to communities in the region through the establishment of institutions like the Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), the Oil Minerals Producing and Development Commission (OMPADEC), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as well as the payment of 13 per cent derivation to oil producing states, the region was still bedeviled with the problem of under-development and poverty.
“These measures have clearly not restored peace or stability to the region and we have to frankly analyse why this is so. It is therefore, legitimate for the rest of Nigerians to ask the question, if so much resources accrue to the Niger-Delta states and indeed the local governments, why is there no commensurate level of development in the region?
“Nigerians are increasingly rejecting the notion that the woes of the Niger-Delta are inflicted by their rapacious and insensitive brothers and sisters elsewhere in the country. They get indignant at the expression sometimes used by some of the so called militants in describing the Nigerian state as if it is an alien entity with which they are in conflict.
“It is time these elements stopped the blame game and looked inwards to their own leaders in the region and hold those responsible to account”, the SGF suggested, adding that before now, oil-producing states were able to fulfil their obligations to their citizens with the resources available to them and wondered why it is now impossible to achieve the same feat with the huge resources at their disposal.
According to Kingibe, the vast majority of people in the Niger-Delta have similar aspirations with other Nigerians, which include “to lead a normal life, have enough food to eat, a roof over their heads, educate their children, access affordable medical care, pursue their livelihoods in peace and security and pay their bills.
Also speaking at the seminar, the managing director of the NDDC, Mr. Timi Alaibe, said the conference provides an opportunity to put in proper perspective what needs to be done to strengthen the dynamics and impetus for sustained development of the Niger-Delta region within the framework of the NDDC master-plan.
Alaibe disclosed that from 2001 � 2008, the NDDC has undertaken over 2, 416 projects, treated over 700, 000 patients under its free medical mission and provided over 10, 000 youths with new skills.
“Even as we speak, we are commissioning, across the nine states of the Niger-Delta region, about 338 projects which are restoring hope to disadvantaged communities of this blessed region.
“With due modesty, we are able to say that at no time in the history of this great country has there been such delivery on projects by one organisation,” he said.