PANDEF Faults Niger Delta’s Exclusion From N3.9tn Federal Road Projects, Echoes

PANDEF Faults Niger Delta’s Exclusion From N3.9tn Federal Road Projects, Echoes 

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has condemned the exclusion of the Niger Delta from the Federal Government’s recently approved N3.9 trillion road infrastructure projects, describing the development as another clear example of the region’s continued neglect despite its enormous contribution to Nigeria’s economy.

The position of the regional body reinforces an earlier report by The Atlantic Bell, which highlighted the absence of major Niger Delta road projects from the Federal Executive Council’s approval of 26 highway projects spread across 15 states.

In a statement signed by its National Leader, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, PANDEF said the omission was unfair and called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently review the list of approved projects to ensure the oil-producing region receives equitable attention.

According to the group, while it welcomed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding the country’s road infrastructure, it was “troubling and shocking” that the South-South was virtually left out of the massive investment.

“The Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee of PANDEF have noted the outcome of the recent Federal Executive Council meeting where the sum of N3.9 trillion was approved for road infrastructure projects across the country.

“While commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his cabinet on this commitment towards the physical infrastructure of the country, we in the South-South lament the fact that our region has again been grossly short-changed with a very insignificant allocation of projects from this humongous sum,” the statement said.

PANDEF noted that out of the 26 projects approved, covering 15 states, the only project linked to the South-South was the N86 billion road connecting Benue and Cross River states, with no major highway traversing the core Niger Delta included in the approvals.

The forum described the development as unacceptable, arguing that poor road infrastructure has continued to isolate communities across the region and undermine economic activities.

“The people of the Niger Delta therefore call on Mr President to look into this matter with a view to reversing the situation, bearing in mind that the Niger Delta region is the revenue base of the country,” Igali stated.

The group also expressed concern over the prolonged delay in completing the East-West Road, describing the flagship highway as “a metaphor for a failed project” despite repeated assurances by the Federal Government that work would be expedited.

PANDEF further decried what it described as the neglect of key maritime infrastructure in the region, noting that the ports in Calabar, Onne, Port Harcourt and Warri remain largely abandoned without any clear programme for rehabilitation, modernisation or expansion.

Describing the situation as “starving the goose that lays the golden egg,” the forum warned that the continued neglect of the Niger Delta fuels feelings of alienation among the people.

Nevertheless, PANDEF reaffirmed the region’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic growth through increased oil and gas production, while urging the Federal Government to demonstrate greater fairness, equity and justice in the distribution of national infrastructure projects.