Notable Niger Delta socio-cultural group, the Orashi National Congress, ONC, has aligned with the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, to condemn what both groups describe as the “gross shortchanging” of the South-South zone in the Federal Executive Council’s recent approval of N3.9 trillion for road infrastructure projects nationwide.
PANDEF, through its National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, had expressed disappointment over the exclusion of the Niger Delta from the list of major projects.
Igali said the sub-region received little attention despite its strategic contribution to Nigeria’s economy through oil and gas production. According to him, of the 26 major road projects approved across 15 states, the only one linked to the South-South is the Benue-Cross River road project.
He described it as troubling for the Niger Deltans that there is no allocation for any other road traversing major parts of the region, noting that the development has further deepened infrastructure deficits and hampered economic activities and movement within the region.
The Orashi National Congress, ONC, through its President General, Amb. Emeni Ibe, JP, AP, joined PANDEF in lamenting the apparent neglect of the region.
“I’m particularly disturbed that such amount of money from the National coffers can be spent without our region benefiting reasonably from the projects,” Amb. Ibe said.
He stressed the economic importance of the Orashi area: “It must be noted that the majority of oil and gas exploration take place in the Orashi region, where huge Nigeria’s revenue comes from.”
Amb. Ibe also expressed concern over the role of elected representatives: “I am equally worried that we have Honourable members of the House of Representatives and Senators from our region and they could not question why our zone wasn’t included in projects of such magnitude.”
The Orashi region covers Abua/Odual LGA, Ahoada East LGA, Ahoada West LGA, and ONELGA — all riverine, oil-producing areas in Rivers State. Stakeholders have long argued that poor road networks in the Niger Delta increase transport costs, limit access to healthcare and education, and slow regional economic growth despite the zone’s contribution to national revenue.
