In what seems like both metabolic and anabolic constructs in the transformation mechanism for the growth and development in the south-south geopolitical zone which is also known as the Niger Delta region and the oil and gas hub in the country, the region has become the precursor to many siblings – the North East Development Commission (NEDC), North West Development Commission (NWDC), South East Development Commission (SEDC) and not too long ago, bills have also been put forward by Senators from both the western and central geopolitical zones of the country for the establishment of North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and as well as South West Development Commission (SWDC) which if passed by the upper legislative chamber, the Senate, would be signed into law by the president.
However, it’s imperative to know that it was the Niger Delta region conundrum that gave rise to the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000.
Again, the formation of the Niger Delta Development Commission was as a result of the fear, and by extension, domination by the major tribes in the country at the time. However, the other siblings (commissions) were set up in total departure of the reason of fear and domination, but are self-inflicted as a result of total disconnect and neglect by political leaders in the zones in the north which resulted in the sufferings of the people due to insecurity and poverty, with exception of the then Middle Belt region agitation in the north that had similar experience with the southern minorities.
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That the Niger Delta region was the precursor to other development commissions in Nigeria should not be in doubt. Recall that it was the fear of domination and agitation by minorities in the country that gave birth to the establishment of Sir Henry Willink’s Commission in 1957 by the colonial government of which the states in South South geopolitical zone are main beneficiaries, as the region was the oil and gas hub of the country, particularly Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.
Furthermore, it was the same region that gave birth to the defunct Oil Mineral Producing Area Development Commission – the OMPADEC which was set up by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, which later transformed to the current NDDC as indicated earlier.
Ordinarily, the Niger Delta region. or by extension, the Niger Delta Development Commission, should have been only those states within the oil producing states in the South South geopolitical zone, that’s, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta states, which are also known as the BRACED states (Commission).
This is more so, as any other states outside this commission is a misnomer. After all, in simple geographic expression, there’s what is called the four (4) cardinal points of north, south, East and west. Expectedly, as it stands now, the south south geopolitical zone or the Niger Delta region is something that is synonymous with the six (6) BRACED states, which naturally and literally fall both in the Niger Delta region and the NDDC.
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Which is why anything short of that, despite the boundary proximity of Abia, Imo and Ondo states to the BRACED (South South), should be seen and viewed as a misnomer and aberration. Therefore, it’s pertinent that Abia, Imo and Ondo states be taken out from the NDDC as presently constituted and be moved to the SEDC and SWDC respectively for easy and smooth administrative exigency. This is so because by simple geographic expression, there’s no need a state or an entity thereof can be part of another entity by any guise, as Abia and Imo states are of the SEDC entity (extraction), while Ondo State is of the SEDC entity respectively.
In the same vein, I advise that all the geopolitical zones so established, should not only make themselves geopolitical nomenclature, but into economic development zones in the mould of the BRACED purely for the purpose of economic and generation of revenue.
On the part of the region, what is needed right now is peace which should serve as a harbinger of stability for growth and development that would eventually translate across the entire nation.
In this regard, with the belief and awareness that there are innumerable natural resources and agricultural crops in every nook and cranny of the country. And so, machineries should be set up all across the country for the exploitation, exploration and production of these resources by the various economic development zones.
To make this a reality, the various economic development zones can also have a private partnership agreement (PPA) with foreign partners for such ventures. That’s why there should be need if not already in place, to tweak our constitution and decentralise the working of the country for effective governance in the form a true fiscal federal system as practiced in other federal climes.
There is also the need for the entrenchment of decentralisation, equality and inclusiveness (the DEI) factor in our practical governance system, which I believe that with genuine potentials that abound in the country, we can take the nation to a greater height.
As these geopolitical zones and regions are turned into economic development zones, they can now be strengthened to adequately harness the resources in the zones for economic activities that would provide opportunities and empowerment for the people. They will also enhance rapid development in terms of infrastructure, small and medium scale industries and increase the value chains of the entire business environment.
Again, apart from diversification of the economy which I had talked about, it is also necessary, to among others, vigorously engage in human capital development. We should avoid complacency, avoid entitlement mentality, avoid mediocrity, avoid short term focus, avoid tribal and sectional mind set, avoid environmental negligence, etc.
At this point in the life of Nigeria as a country, and as Nigerians, we should realise that the days of the oil boom are over and with the latest innovations in science and technology globally, we should look inward and ahead for the future and invest in technology, diversity our God given natural resources for the common good of the people.
Above all, as we have recently celebrated the 64th birthday of the country (64th Independence day), we should come together and reassess our priorities, have an agreement (as a nation) for the convenience of each and every one; we should reinvigorate our value system, develop and adopt adaptive solutions by changing the way we do things, and provide technical solutions for the prosperity of the country; we should stop the epidemic of the corruption in the country; we should restructure the country in the mould of the parliamentary system or a more and better manageable format that would ensure equity, fairness and justice.
Indeed, what Nigeria needs now is men and women of integrity, upright, and of good and great extraction, an encapsulation and embodiment of good leadership that the people can trust to move the country forward both within and in the comity of nations, and not to be consigned to a state of obscurity. May God help Nigeria.
