A group under the aegis of Niger Delta Support Group (NIDSG) has called on the Federal Government to accord priority attention to the development of the oil rich region by declaring an economic state of emergency in the area.
The group made the declaration at a meeting held during the weekend in Warri, Delta State.
The body which decried the growing spate of insecurity and poverty in the Niger Delta, also called on the governments of the Niger Delta States to make judicious use of the monthly federal allocations to improve the standards of living of their people.
The group accused the Federal Government of “deliberately neglecting the Niger Delta region, which fuels the wheels of the Nigerian economy through its natural resources”, noting that the Federal Government is easily prone to declaring state of emergency in the Niger Delta when there is threat to national security.
“The Federal Government does not waste time to declare a state of emergency when ever there is a threat to national security in the region as we have seen in recent times, such as Operation Crocodile Smile I and 2 in the same vein, it should declare an economic state of emergency in the Niger Delta because the deplorable state of the regions and its people ought to be a major concern to the Federal government”.
The group, further raised alarm over what it described as “deliberate attempt to strangulate and snuff out the economic oxgen of the Niger Delta, by undermining the economic potentials of its ports, while NNPC and NLNG have become like bullion vans for transporting wealth from the region to unknown destinations”. The group regretted that the billons of Dollars reportedly missing from NLNG coffers is happening under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is the Petroleum Minster.
Ahead of the 2019 General elections, the groups called for the restructuring of the Nigerian state to reflect the ideals of justice, noting that the Niger Delta will not continue to play the second fiddle, but assume its right position in a restructured Nigeria.
“We urge the federal and state governments to engage relevant stakeholders across the region, not self styled leaders, on developing an economic map and blueprint for sustainable economic development of the region. We reiterate our call for a restructured Nigeria where there will be decentralization of power to regions.

By: Taneh Beemene