FG continues to deny Niger Deltans due despite oil wealth – Rights Group President

The National President of the Peace Development Security and Humanitarian Rights Association of Niger Deltans, Comrade Mike J.K. Tiemo, has accused the Federal Government of persistently marginalizing the Niger Delta region despite its pivotal role in sustaining Nigeria's economy through crude oil and gas production.

Speaking at a press conference in Warri, Delta State, Comrade Tiemo expressed disappointment over what he described as decades of calculated neglect and injustice by successive administrations, which, according to him, have failed to address the region’s core development needs.

He lamented the continued failure of the Federal Government to pay compensation for the environmental damage caused by gas flaring. 

He said the devastating impact on health and livelihoods in host communities has gone largely unaddressed. 

He called for urgent investment in facilities that will convert flared gas into domestic and industrial use.

Comrade Tiemo also criticized the controversial 3% allocation to host communities in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), describing it as grossly inadequate. 

He said the people of the Niger Delta deserve at least 20% due to the environmental and economic toll they bear as a result of oil exploration activities.

On the issue of resource control, he reiterated long-standing demands for true federalism and equitable distribution of resources. Without this, he warned, systemic injustice in the region would persist and potentially worsen in the coming generations.

He expressed frustration over the unfulfilled promise of modular refineries, noting that despite public assurances by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the initiative has not materialized. 

According to him, the failure to establish these refineries has dashed employment hopes among Niger Delta youths. He called on President Bola Tinubu to issue licenses to interested investors and fast-track the establishment of at least 100 modular refineries.

The group further decried the poor implementation and delayed release of the 13% derivation fund meant for oil-producing communities. 

Comrade Tiemo emphasized that the fund must be released promptly and utilized transparently to achieve tangible development in the region.

He also took aim at the Federal Government's handling of the Coastal Road Project, noting the exclusion of key states such as Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Ondo. 

He urged President Tinubu to ensure simultaneous execution of the project across all relevant states to avoid further marginalization.

The group demanded rotational zoning of the presidency across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as a cost-effective and fair political model to ensure equity and inclusivity in leadership.

Comrade Tiemo condemned the abandonment of the Niger Delta Coastal Road Master Plan, which he said has isolated oil-producing communities and deprived them of economic opportunities. 

He called for immediate action to revive and complete the project.

He also raised concerns over the unresolved compensation for the 2011 Bonga oil spill, which caused severe environmental damage.

He accused the Federal Government of failing to hold oil giant Shell accountable or provide justice to affected communities.

The condition of critical road infrastructure in the region, including the Udo–Inikorogha–Ofunama Road in Edo State and the bridge linking Ogbeinbiri and Ogbudubudu communities in Delta State, was also highlighted. Comrade Tiemo described the roads as deplorable and said their abandonment has left key communities cut off from modern development.

He called on key political figures from the region — including First Lady Senator Remi Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, Minister of Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri, and Minister of Aviation Festus Keyamo — to prevail on President Tinubu to urgently address the concerns of the Niger Delta people.

Comrade Tiemo concluded by warning that peace in the Niger Delta cannot be guaranteed without justice, fairness, and genuine federal commitment to inclusive development.