Niger Delta Governors have been tasked to explain how they utilise the billions of Naira accrued to the states from the 13 per cent derivation meant for the development of the oil producing communities of the region. A former House of Representatives member from Rivers State, Dr. Farah Dagogo, who raised the question expressed concerns that the Niger Delta region has gotten trillions of Naira, constitutionally accrued to it through 13% derivation for over 23 years, with over ₦600 billion of that sum already gotten in the first half of 2024 but successive governors from the region have not been able to better the lots of the communities as the people still live in ‘ squalor, diseases and reeking with the worst and highest form of poverty.’ Dagogo pointed out that despite the seeming failure of the Federal Government, it has however not failed to actualise a steady increment in the 13 per cent derivation to the Niger Delta governors.
“In January, N57.92 billion was released to oil-producing states. In February, it rose to N85.10 billion and in March, the Niger Delta oil producing states got N166.24 billion. The sums were N90.12 billion, N120.45 billion and N106.50 billion for April, May and June respectively, Yes, we all agree that this Federal Government has not lived up to its billing but in this instance, you have to agree that and acknowledge that these allocations demonstrate the Federal Government’s continued support for state governments, particularly in oil-producing regions, where the derivation funds serve as a critical source of revenue for addressing their unique challenges, “he added. Dr. Farah Dagogo, a former governorship aspirant, explained that because the amount being released for the oil communities were not being utilised for the expected purposes, the people have since developed a ‘ subconscious apathy’ to the humongous amount being released, a situation that ‘sits well with however the governor wishes to expend the fund as against its constitutional provisions’
He lamented in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday, that the story of the oil producing communities in Niger Delta region is a sad one, given that the 13 percent derivation, which is the fund set aside to assist oil-producing communities tackle infrastructural decay and degradation, is mostly mismanaged and unaccounted for by the governors, who instead of serving as its custodian rather view it as free monies
“This 13 percent derivation is the fund set aside to assist oil-producing communities tackle infrastructural decay and degradation, my emphasis on the oil producing communities! It is a constitutional requirement and what it means basically is that in sharing the federation account revenue, 13 percent should be set aside to assist the development of these oil-producing communities. More than two decades down the line what is there to show for the humongous monies that have come in? This is a very sad commentary as it relates to the oil producing communities of the Niger Delta. What we have instead are governors trying to impose their stooges to continue that lineage of plundering that fund. That’s the result of most in-fighting between former governors and their installed successors. Conduct an investigation to these areas, these oil producing communities and you will weep when you gauge their abject living conditions with what had been allocated for them. No electricity, no drinking water, no roads, total lack of basic amenities.
“Why are the Governors, who receive these funds on behalf of these communities , being very indifferent to their plight and have established a line that they would rather fill their pockets with the funds and continue to live large than commit such to the development of the communities? The answer sits well with however the governor wishes to expend the fund as against its constitutional provisions. We need explanation , with irrefutable facts, how the derivation funds to better the lives of the people and their oil producing communities have been expended . Sadly, the expected explanations could only be imagined as It would only amount to looking for a needle in a haystack, it will not produce anything concrete, especially as it seems the people have developed subconscious apathy to their deprivation. I want to strongly believe that it is never too late to correct the wrongs of the past. I also want to have a positive conviction that this set of governors will side on the right side of history and do justice to the revenues they are getting on behalf of the oil producing communities, ” he added.
