Human rights advocate, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, has strongly condemned the ongoing exploitation of the Niger Delta people by the Federal Government, calling for an immediate end to the brutal exploitation that has plagued the region for decades. He emphasized that the Niger Delta, rich in natural resources, should not be synonymous with poverty.
Falana made this assertion during the Ken Saro-Wiwa 30th Anniversary Memorial Lecture in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, which was held with the theme: “Ken Saro-Wiwa, The Man, His Legacies, Struggles and Challenges.” In his keynote address, he reiterated that the Niger Delta’s vast resources should guarantee the prosperity of its people.
“The people of the Niger Delta have no business with poverty; you should live a life of prosperity based on your wealth. That is why this brutal exploitation must stop,” Falana stated.
The lawyer called for greater accountability and justice for the Niger Delta, urging that the region should receive fair compensation to lift it out of its long-standing poverty. He further advocated for the Rivers State government to pass legislation ensuring that oil-producing areas in the state receive a special allocation from the 13% derivation fund, which is earmarked for the region’s development.
Falana referenced the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which stipulates that 3% of oil company operations should be dedicated to host community development, and urged for this allocation to be increased to 5%. He stressed that there must be greater transparency and accountability in the use of these funds, particularly as large sums—approximately N97 billion and $150 million—are being allocated for the development of host communities.
“Rivers State must have a similar law that will make special allocations to the oil-producing areas out of the 13% derivation. Under the PIA, section 257, 3% of oil company operations should be set aside for host community development. Oil communities should strive to increase this percentage, and we all must ensure accountability with respect to these figures,” Falana declared.
While Falana called for justice, environmental rights activist Nimmo Bassey rejected the government’s planned resumption of oil exploration in the region. Bassey argued that the government should instead prioritize the completion of ongoing cleanup projects, which are vital to restoring the region’s environment before any further exploration takes place.
