Precious Anga
Lagos — The Niger Delta Patriotic Front, NDPF, has faulted the Federal Government over its failure to address the ocean surge threatening more than 150 coastal communities across the Niger Delta.
The group said the surge has already consumed significant portions of land in several riverine communities, leaving residents exposed to further displacement and loss of livelihoods.
Among the affected communities identified by the NDPF are Agge in Bayelsa State; Forcados in Burutu Local Government Area, Ugborodo Federated Communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area, and Orere communities, including Ogheye Eghoroke and Ogheye Dimigun, in Delta State.
In Ondo State, the group listed Eki-tie, Eki-Kporo, Awoye, Igbokoda, Ayetoro, Ekoregho and Araromi among communities affected by the encroaching ocean surge.
In a statement signed by its President, David Odeli, and Publicity Secretary, Timi Okubor, the NDPF said the Niger Delta had remained excluded from adequate national development despite producing a substantial share of Nigeria’s crude oil and gas.
The group also criticised successive federal administrations over what it described as the prolonged neglect of major infrastructure projects in the region, including the 422.9-kilometre Warri-Calabar East-West Road, Lagos-Benin-Asaba Road, Benin-Sapele-Warri Road and Koko-Ogheye-Lekki-Lagos Road.
The NDPF further condemned the location of the headquarters of International Oil Companies outside their operational bases in the Niger Delta, arguing that the region should receive stronger institutional and economic integration.
It called on the Federal Government, through relevant interventionist agencies, ministries and departments, to develop a coordinated regional policy with the affected state governments to protect coastal communities from further destruction by ocean surge.
“The federal government must as a matter of national urgency, ensure that all sea ports in the Niger Delta, work optimally. It must fast-track rehabilitation of Warri and Port-Harcourt refineries, to extricate the region from the volatility of crude oil at the international market vis-à-vis its impact on the price of refined products,” the group said.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, the NDPF also demanded an alternative presidential candidate, alleging that successive military and civilian administrations had failed to adequately address the development challenges confronting the Niger Delta since independence.
