‘Oil Producing States Deserve 50% Derivation Revenue’

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Engr Tele Ikuru who represented the governor (middle) commissioning the International Market built by Obio/Akpor Local Government Council. With him is wife to the Governor, Dame Judith Amaechi (2nd right), and wife of the Deputy Governor, Dr Mina Ikuru, while the Chairman of Obio/Akpor, Hon Timothy Nsirim watch.

Delta State Governor, Dr Emmauel Uduaghan, has made a case
for the increase of oil derivation revenue to oil-producing states from 13 per
cent to 50 per cent.

Uduaghan made the call while delivering a lecture, “Niger
Delta: Beyond Resource Control, Burden and Realities of Transformation”, in
Asaba, arguing that the increase would compensate for past violence in the
region and damage to their environments.

He explained that pleas for the increase were entirely in
order, saying the issues on derivation should be based on equity and fairness,
and called for proper funding and repositioning of the Ministry of Niger Delta.

“The Niger Delta people should be given the opportunity to
see more profound programmes that would save their environment and open up
their areas for economic activities that are not based on oil and gas,” he
added.

He equally enjoined oil-producing states to diversify their
internal revenue base, especially as the era in which oil may no longer exist
is fast approaching.

“Oil wells are fast running dry and a time will come when
Niger Delta states would look for alternative source of funding their
programmes,” he warned.

“You should get the most you can from oil now before the
post-oil era, because whether we like it or not, that era must come,” he added.

He advised states to revive agriculture, and also challenged
them to enhance rural industrialisation, revive and deepen manufacturing, clean
up the environment, and upgrade infrastructures.