Worried by the lack of progress in tackling the myriad of intractable problems plaguing the Niger Delta region, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF)the other day accused the Federal Government of reneging on its planned dialogue with the group to chart the way forward for the oil-rich but underdeveloped region. According to reports, PANDEF has been particularly incensed that the consultations the Federal Government promised the Niger Delta stakeholders have not materialized since its meeting with the president who promised the deal. Besides, the leaders demanded the resolution of pending law and justice issues of some aggrieved groups; restructuring and robust funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Ministry of the Niger Delta Affairs and a comprehensive resettlement plan to reduce the risk of making the region a stateless people. It is important, at this juncture, to emphasise that the issues of the Niger Delta region have gone beyond stakeholder’ access to and ownership of oil blocks. President Buhari should not recant on the issue of transfer of oil company offices to the Niger Delta.

Source: The Guardian September 30, 2018 03:56 UTC