Precious Anga
Lagos — Former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Foreign Affairs, Henry Odein Ajumogobia, has argued that the Niger Delta’s longstanding environmental degradation, poverty and underdevelopment are rooted not in a lack of natural resources or legal frameworks, but in weak governance and poor enforcement of existing laws.
Speaking at the 2026 Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Law and Development Summit in Port Harcourt, Ajumogobia called for far-reaching legal and institutional reforms, including a total ban on routine gas flaring, the establishment of specialised environmental courts and greater transparency in the management of oil revenues and community development funds.
Delivering a keynote address on the theme, “The Role of Law in Driving Sustainable Development in the Niger Delta Region,” the Senior Advocate of Nigeria said decades of ineffective legal governance had prevented the oil-rich region from translating its vast resources into sustainable economic growth and improved living standards.
“The Niger Delta is not suffering from a lack of law. It is suffering from a failure of legal governance,” Ajumogobia said, stressing that development can only be achieved when communities are empowered through enforceable rights that guarantee participation in petroleum operations, equitable revenue sharing and inclusion in decisions affecting their environment and livelihoods.
He advocated stronger environmental regulations, including strict liability provisions for pollution and legally binding timelines for remediation of degraded sites, arguing that accountability remains critical to environmental protection.
According to him, environmental courts with powers to enforce compliance and impose sanctions are needed to address persistent ecological challenges across the region. He also renewed calls for an outright prohibition of gas flaring, describing the practice as one of the Niger Delta’s most enduring environmental threats.
“Gas flaring must end, not in rhetoric, but in law,” he said, adding that tougher penalties are required to deter violations and protect host communities.
Ajumogobia further called for reforms in resource governance, noting that excessive central control over natural resources has weakened local participation, fuelled distrust and limited development opportunities in oil-producing communities. He urged policymakers to embrace greater transparency in the petroleum sector and create legal frameworks that support economic diversification through agriculture, fisheries, tourism, aquaculture and the emerging blue economy.
Describing the region’s development challenges as a governance issue rather than a resource problem, he said the Niger Delta’s future depends on laws that are effectively implemented and aligned with the aspirations of local communities.
Also speaking at the summit, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to sustainable development through institutional reforms designed to improve efficiency and service delivery.
Ogbuku disclosed that the commission has achieved nearly 90 per cent digitalisation of its internal operations, allowing contractors and stakeholders to execute agreements electronically and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie, said the summit was convened to explore how legal reforms can support sustainable development in the Niger Delta, noting that many communities continue to grapple with poverty and inadequate infrastructure despite the region’s vast natural wealth.
He stressed the need for a legal framework that supports development rather than hinders it, while also addressing challenges such as funding constraints, inflationary pressures and project delays.
The summit brought together legal experts, policymakers, development practitioners and regional stakeholders to examine how legal reforms can help tackle the environmental and socio-economic challenges facing the Niger Delta and unlock sustainable growth across the region.
