A non-governmental organization, The Social Development Integration Centre (Social Action), has called for transparency and accountability in Niger Delta social and economic development.
The group in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), in support from the MacArthur Foundation, made the call at the weekend during a day Niger Delta Multi-Stakeholders summit held in Port Harcourt.
The theme of the summit, “Building the Niger Delta Hope: Collaborating for Inclusive Development and Public Accountability,” aimed to advocate for transparency and accountability in the management of proceeds made from natural resources, particularly oil and gas.
Speaking at the summit, the Director of Social Action International, Dr Isaac ‘Asume’ Osuoka, said the Niger Delta multi-stakeholders development and accountability summit was centred on three core objectives: enhancing multi-stakeholders dialogue, cultivating collaboration and embedding accountability.
He went on to emphasize on the urgent need for transformative change in the region, focusing on accountability in the face of environmental degradation and social injustice.
He therefore called for concrete actions from President Bola Tinubu to address the ongoing divestment process by international oil companies and ensure environmental clean-up, equitable compensationand sustainable practices.
While speaking, the secretary to the ICPC, Mr Clifford Oparaodu, gave an overview of the challenges faced by the Niger Delta and the rationale behind the creation of intervention institutions such as OMPADEC and later the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in 2001.
Oparaodu defended the establishment of the NDDC and urged citizens to participate in the entire process from budget creation to project execution, emphasizing the importance of monitoring project quality and timeliness in their communities.
He went further to advised community youths to consider NDDC projects as beneficial to their own interest and therefore should protect them.
Also present at the summit was the paramount ruler of Epara Rebisi XII, Eze Uche Elikwu, lamented the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta despite its heavy burden as the region responsible for over 80 percent of the country’s exports.
Eze Elikwu expressed displeasure that the NDDC was yet to fulfill its purpose since its establishment and meet the expectations of the Niger Delta people.
The summit ended with some recommendations from the panelists drawn from across the Niger Delta states, including Edo, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, among others.
Some of the recommendations suggest that NDDC should concentrate on its mandate to adress environmental issues, including pollution prevention, environmental conservation and protection of natural resources within the Niger Delta region.
It recommended that stakeholders in Niger Delta should advocate for transparency and accountability in government and community businesses.
Ensure the protection of all NDDC projects and installations, monitoring and reporting on all NDDC project executions to ensure quality, according to the recommendaation.
Others are: implementing technology in all procurement processes and organizing capacity training to tackle corruption.
Also introducing community accountability measures to ensure judicious use of resources by the ICPC, and call for state level plans for a Niger Delta beyond oil, clean-up programmes for the region and diversification into tourism to generate revenue.
