Niger Delta condition represents paradox of circumstance – SERAP

A non-profit, non-partisan, legal and advocacy organisation committed to promotion of transparency, accountability and respects for socio-econoimic rights in Nigeria, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), at an interactive session and press briefing on Promoting Transparency and Accountability in the use of public funds in Nigeria with focus on Niger Delta, at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, noted that the state of the Niger Delta region presents a paradox of circumstance.

Olubunmi Afinowi Ph.D

SERAP, presenting a report on its research on development and intervention projects in the Niger Delta with emphasis on “Strengthening transparency and Accountability in the Management of Oil and Gas Resources in the Niger Delta”, conducted by Olubunmi A. Afinowi, Ph.D, emphasized that the Niger Delta region has a population of about 45 million people.

The research examined empirical and predominant doctrines in the Niger Delta; extending to the ways governments respond to the needs of the people, incidence of injustice in the region, effects of oil exploration, compensation strategies of the government and oil companies, regulation framework and legal instruments, as well as key players in the oil and gas industry in the Niger Delta.

Presenting the report in Lagos, Olubunmi A. Afinowi, Ph.D, reiterated that the state of the Niger Delta presents a paradox of circumstances, noting that the region remains deeply in the grips of squalor, poverty and environmental degradation.

Afinowi identified key players in oil and gas in the Niger Delta to include Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), IOCs – Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Chevron, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Agip and others.
She cited the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, as one of the regulatory framework.

Olubunmi A. Afinowi disclosed that the NDDC has 14,800 projects in place in the Niger Delta, highlighting that 5,034 projects were ongoing, 5,575 projects were completed, 2,443 projects were newly awarded, while 669 projects had been commissioned.

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Afinowi, lamenting the deplorable condition of the Niger Delta, cited Obiam and Amadi declaring: “the Niger Delta is in a general state underdevelopment, unemployment, excessive poverty, lack of competent and suitable infrastructure.”

She, accordingly, identified the development challenges in the Niger Delta to include unemployment, lack of access to water and hygiene, absence or depletion of major infrastructure, insufficient roads and transpiration, lack of healthcare facilities, among others.

She noted that the most frequent analysis relates to the unbearable circumstances of life in the Niger Delta. She agreed with stakeholders at the session that interventions do not sufficiently make up for the negative impacts of oil exploration and gas flaring in the Niger Delta.

Adetokunmbo Mumuni, Executive Director of SERAP

In her findings, Olubunmi A. Afinowi observed information on oil and gas activities of companies are not available to residents of the host communities.

She also pointed out lack of public participation in the governance system, adding that there is no clear cut structure of public participation. Accordingly, communities have no say on tracking projects.

Also, there is no need assessment, governments and oil companies do not relate with host communities to know what the want or the challenges of the host communities. Thus, there is gap between the government and the people, and feedback on projects does not exist.

The research also found that there is marginalisation of local host communities who are vulnerable to environmental hazards.

Apparently, the Niger Delta suffers extensive social, economic and environmental degeneration, she said.
Olubunmi A. Afinowi recommended decentralized governance system, participation of all stakeholders, companies should make public independent and sustainable development plans, enforcement of criminal and civil liabilities, collaborative research by civil society organisations (CSOs) on accountability and development, continuous campaign, litigation, among others.

Details in subsequent report.