PANDEF Demands African Energy Bank Empowerment For Niger Deltans

The Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has said that the development of the Niger Delta should be taken beyond just setting up interventionist agencies like the NDDG, PAP and others to actually empower the people of the region to take benefits from the huge endowments of hydrocarbons under their soil.
The demand for the empowerment of the people of the Niger Delta formed part the communiqué of the one-day Special Assembly of the forum that held in Port Harcourt last Thursday.
A key component of the communiqué said, “The Assembly applauded the initiative of the African oil producing nations to establish the Energy Bank, to be headquartered in Nigeria, to finance more drilling, mining, refining, and marketing our abundant hydrocarbon deposits for Sustainable economic development.
“PANDEF calls on the Federal Government to show greater commitment in ensuring fairness in the manner in which the legal regime in the oil and gas sector, regarding participation of host communities is brought at par with the solid mineral sector.”
The forum equally asked investors from the Niger Delta to take advantage of the opportunities that the energy bank offers to build modular refineries and develop green and clean energy potential to boost global climate change efforts.
The Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, had disclosed to the special assembly that European and American financial institutions were no longer willing to fund oil exploration activities because of concerns about climate change.
He therefore said that alternative sources had to be established to fund oil exploration to raise the kind of money Nigeria needs to invest in alternative energy sources so that when eventually energy from hydrocarbon sources become moribund, the country would not be left behind.
He said African oil producing countries had to come together to set up the African Energy Bank with headquarters in Nigeria to provide alternative funding for oil and gas investments. He said the bank will start with a capital case of $5 billion, and would begin operations in November. The asset base of the bank, he said, would grow to $120 billion in the next four years with its funding capacity rising to $150 billion by 2028.
PANDEF examined policies of the federal government that marginalise Niger Delta investors from effective participation in the oil and gas industry, which denied Niger Delta businesses like owning major oil blocs or operating facilities in the industry, and called for fairness in regulating the minerals sector by treating oil and gas in a similar way that solid minerals extraction is treated, especially with the participation of host communities in the extraction of minerals.
PANDEF condemned the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs without due consultation with the critical stakeholders of the Niger Delta and called on the federal government to further discuss and address concerns raised by the stakeholders on this matter.
It however welcomed the proposal for a South-South Commission to supplement existing Federal intervention agencies in the region. However, the name of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NÐDC) should reflect its functions and the actual membership, the communique said.
The Assembly called on the state governments in the region to fully utilise the revenues from the 13 percent derivation by undertaking critical projects and programmes like massive industrialisation and agriculture to generate wealth, employment, and skills.
“Through the vehicle of joint ventures with private investors, industrial estates and clusters can be established in all local government areas; agriculture and food security can be boosted through mechanised methods, processing, and marketing in areas of competitive advantage, e.g., cassava, yam and other tubers, plantain, grains, aquaculture/fisheries, poultry, livestock, oil palm, raffia palm, coconut,” the communiqué said.
While noting that education is the primary driver of modernisation and development, PANDEF urged governments in the Niger Delta to redouble investment in quality and relevant education, which it said they can do through partnership with private investors.
Apart from guaranteeing tuition-free education, the forum said the region should aim at having an average of one tertiary institution in each of the 185 LGAs, and set aside 25 percent of budgets for education in line with the template recommended by UNESCO.
PANDEF said it would embark on setting up research institutes and publication platforms to propagate ideas and information on the Niger Delta region and its vision in the competitive global community.
It also called on all governments and NDDC to jointly undertake such projects such as railway track from Calabar to Benin City, which it said should run parallel to the East-West Highway with spurs to major towns and industrial sites in the six states.
In the area of transportation, PANDEF suggested the inauguration of intra and inter-city transport that should focus on metro lines, tramways and buses.
“Inland waterways deserve special attention by establishing viable maritime transport systems of modern vessels using solar power energy. The vessels can also serve as mobile health centres, schools, and conference centres; this is the practice in places like Indonesia and Venice in Italy.”
The communiqué noted the setting up of a high level Peace and Reconciliation Committee to mediate on and resolve all disputes and conflicts within the region. The Committee is headed by former Akwa Ibom State governor, Obong Victor Attah, Others members of the committee are Senator Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, Senator Rowland Owie, Senator Stella Omu, Rear Admiral G. John-Jonah, Col. Pam Ogar, and Dr. Stella Dorgu.
A new National Executive Committee was inaugurated at the assembly with Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali as National Chairman. Other members are Hon. Bassey Ekefre, Deputy National Chairman, Hon. Godwin Okotie – Ag. National Secretary, Chief Obiuwevbi Christopher Ominimini – National Spokesman, Dr. Joseph Edet, National Organising Secretary, Rev. Aniedi Ndem, National Legal Adviser, Pastor Grace Ekong, National Woman Leader, Princess Jane Peters, Assistant National Women Leader, Mr. Don Ben Donyegha, Comrade Matthew Dighi, Mrs. Ifeoma Agbomah, National Treasurer, Mr. E.E. Igbinaduwa, National Financial Secretary and Fatiede Ayebide, National Auditor.
The communiqué was signed by King Alfred Diette-Spiff, Obong Victor Attah (Co-Chairmen, Board of Trustees; Dr. Igali, Hon Okotie, and Chief Ominimini.