‘Oya ya Sinmwen Evbuomwen’ Group Oppose Minister’s Neglect Of Oil-Producing Communities In The Niger Delta
The Oasis Reporters
January 8, 2024
By Edes Edgar Atohengbe
Benin City, Edo State – We, ‘Oya ya Sinmwen Evbuomwen’, strongly condemn the actions of the Minister of Niger Delta for his apparent lack of understanding of the role of his ministry and his neglect of the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta region.
We are deeply concerned about the minister’s decision to prioritize projects that do not directly benefit the communities that are responsible for oil production.
The Ministry of Niger Delta was established with a clear purpose – to oversee the development and welfare of the Niger Delta region, which is a significant oil-producing area in Nigeria.
The ministry’s role is to ensure the sustainable development of the region, promote peace and security, and improve the living conditions of the people in the Niger Delta.
However, it has come to our attention that the current minister has chosen to allocate funds for projects that do not directly impact the oil-producing communities.
This decision is a grave mistake and goes against the very purpose for which the ministry exists.
The roads in these communities are in deplorable conditions, making them impassable and hindering economic growth and development.
We want to make it clear that we will not stand idly by while the minister neglects the needs of the oil-producing communities.
We will be petitioning the federal government to address this issue and ensure that the ministry fulfills its mandate to support and uplift these communities.
It is disheartening to note that the minister, who hails from Edo state, has chosen to prioritize projects in his own constituency, which is not directly impacted by oil production.
We demand that the minister provide us with justifications for his decision to allocate funds for projects that do not benefit the oil-producing communities.
We call on him to retract from these projects and redirect the funds to initiatives that will have a significant impact on the lives of those communities.
Furthermore, we want to draw attention to the federal government’s 2024 budget for the Ministry of Niger Delta. It is alarming to see that the top five capital projects listed in the budget are all located in Edo North senatorial district, while neglecting the urgent needs of the oil-producing communities in Edo South senatorial district. This biased allocation of resources is unacceptable and raises serious concerns about fairness and equity in the distribution of funds.
We urge the federal government to review and reconsider this allocation, taking into account the dire conditions of the roads in Edo South senatorial district. It is crucial that the government ensures fairness, equity, and the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region.
According to the NDDC Act that commenced on July 12, 2000, the NDDC is mandated for the development of “oil producing communities” rather than oil producing states. Section 2(b) of the Act specifies that one person, who should be an indigenous resident of an oil producing area (not an oil producing state), should represent each member state on the NDDC.
Currently, the representative for Edo State on the NDDC, Hon. Aisowierenren, is from Oza in Orhionmwon LGA, which is not an oil producing area. Therefore, it is necessary to urgently appoint a suitable nominee from an oil producing area. Additionally, there is a request for the reversal of projects in Edo North.
In conclusion, we, Oya ya Sinmwen Evbuomwen, will continue to advocate for the rights and needs of the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta. We will not rest.
