The National President of the Niger Delta Students Union Government (NIDSUG), Comr. Idowu Martin Ayemobuwa (PKA) HERO on behalf of the millions of students and youth across the Niger Delta region, hereby issue a stern and urgent call to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately disband the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and directly allocate the Commission’s funds and resources to the individual states within the region.
The creation of the NDDC was a noble and well-intended effort to address the historical neglect and underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region, which has borne the brunt of the country’s oil wealth. However, the agency has tragically failed in its mandate to bring about meaningful development, uplift the lives of the people, and transform the region. This failure is not just a result of inadequate funding or external factors, but a direct consequence of the commission’s internal dysfunction, corruption, mismanagement, and leadership ineptitude.
Despite the substantial allocations and resources funneled into the NDDC over the years, the region continues to suffer from crippling poverty, poor infrastructure, environmental degradation, and a lack of basic social amenities. Roads remain impassable, schools and hospitals are in disrepair, and communities are still struggling to access clean water and electricity. These are the same communities that contribute immensely to the nation’s wealth. It is utterly unacceptable that despite the billions allocated to the NDDC, the region continues to suffer from neglect and deprivation.
The leadership of the NDDC has not only failed to execute projects effectively but has also become a notorious breeding ground for corruption, mismanagement, and embezzlement of public funds. It is no longer news that the Commission has been plagued with a series of scandals involving financial misappropriation, fraud, and the diversion of funds meant for the development of the region. The lack of transparency and accountability within the Commission has caused widespread disenchantment among the people of the Niger Delta, who are left to question the very purpose and integrity of the agency.
Even more concerning is the ethnically motivated segregation and marginalization that has characterized the NDDC’s operations. The leadership of the Commission has consistently shown a blatant disregard for the equitable distribution of resources and benefits to the various states within the Niger Delta region. There have been numerous reports of favoritism, with certain states and communities receiving preferential treatment while others are left behind. This divisive approach has deepened ethnic and political tensions within the region, further undermining the unity and development that the NDDC was supposed to foster.
The time has come for a fundamental shift in how we address the developmental challenges of the Niger Delta. It is no longer sustainable to rely on an institution that has demonstrated repeated failure in fulfilling its purpose. The people of the Niger Delta deserve more than empty promises and broken systems. We demand that the Federal Government take decisive action to address these systemic failures by disbanding the NDDC and redirecting its funds directly to the state governments in the region.
State governments, with proper oversight and accountability, are in the best position to utilize the funds and resources that were meant for the development of their respective areas. The local leadership has a better understanding of the specific needs and priorities of their people and is more attuned to the challenges facing their communities. With direct control over the funds, state governments will be better equipped to design and implement development programs that will have a lasting and tangible impact on the lives of the people.
We also call for a transparent and accountable system to be put in place to monitor the allocation and use of these resources, ensuring that every naira is spent wisely and in a manner that directly benefits the people. The era of waste, corruption, and inefficiency must come to an end.
Furthermore, we insist that the Federal Government take immediate action to investigate and prosecute all individuals implicated in the mismanagement of funds within the NDDC. Those who have stolen from the people of the Niger Delta must face the full wrath of the law. There must be justice for the people who have been robbed of their rightful development.
It is essential that the Federal Government listens to the cries of the Niger Delta people, particularly the youth and students who represent the future of the region. We stand united in demanding change. We are tired of seeing our resources squandered while our communities continue to suffer. We are tired of seeing our youth being deprived of the opportunities that should be their birthright.
We, the Niger Delta Students Union Government (NIDSUG), call on all well-meaning citizens, community leaders, civil society groups, and other stakeholders to join us in this call for the disbandment of the NDDC. Together, we can restore hope to the Niger Delta, ensure that our people benefit from the wealth of their land, and bring about the real change that the region desperately needs.
We demand that the Federal Government act swiftly and decisively. The time to act is now.
Signed:
Comr. Idowu Martin Ayemobuwa (PKA) HERO
National President
Niger Delta Students Union Government (NIDSUG)
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