Our reporter/ The Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Saturday called on the Niger Delta Development Company (NDDC) to proffer sustainable solutions to the economic challenges currently bedevilling the Niger Delta.
Her advice comes as the oil-producing region suffers from environmental degradation from decades of oil and gas exploration.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was critical in her choice of words while delivering her address during the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Commission, said the neglect of the socio-economic prosperity of the region has resulted in widespread frustration, which has culminated in restiveness among the people.
She called on NDDC to give “special attention” to the economic development of the Niger Delta.
“Let me first congratulate the NDDC for the work it has carried out for the people of the Niger Delta.
“If I’m a bit critical in my speech, you know me, I mean it for good, because I think you have done a lot, but you still have a lot to do.
“The NDDC was established in 2000 by former president Obasanjo, as a successor to UMPADEK, which had been in operation since the days of the Military government. This was in response to the cries of marginalisation and underdevelopment by the people of the Niger Delta, where Nigeria’s oil and gas resources are concentrated.
“Oil and gas exploration, by its nature, often poses challenges to its environment in the form of pollution of land and waters. Gas flaring is another hazard that the people in the environment have had to deal with.
“These challenges were backed up by the government with the setting up of the NDDC.
“You, the NDDC, cannot afford to fail.
“As you well know, the oil and gas accounts for 90 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange, and 70 per cent of its fiscal revenue, which is why it is regarded as the lifeblood of the economy. The people of the region must be carried along so that they can feel their concerns are being addressed.
“The goose that lays the golden egg deserves attention in the form of infrastructure and social services to ensure that there is peace in the area, so it can continue to contribute optimally to the economy of the country.
“In this regard, the purpose of the federal government was to use the NDDC as a vehicle to address some of the challenges of the oil communities were facing, including the environmental degradation from oil and gas exploration as it affects oil and fishing activities, infrastructure and the general absence of economic opportunities.
“All of these caused a lot of frustrations that have affected the operations of the oil industry and threaten the prosperity of the country. The NDDC, therefore, has a very important responsibility, first to the people of the region, to ensure that it positively affects the lives of the people, and secondly, that it leads to contentment of the people, to enable the Federal Government to optimally earn revenue from it.
“The NDDC has a lofty goal of transforming the region. The NDDC is to offer a lasting solution to the socio-economic difficulties of the Niger Delta region,” she said.
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