Kachikwu: $40b down the drain in Niger Delta

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu yesterday told Niger Delta Coastal State monarchs and stakeholders that there was no infrastructure in the creek to show for the $40 billion released to the Niger Delta in the last 10 years.

He told the monarchs who visited him in Abuja that he (the minister) went round the creeks and found no infrastructure that reflects the money disbursed to the region through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) or the 13 per cent derivation from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC).

The traditional rulers had in their joint presentation read by Bolowei of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Wellington O. Okrika,  demanded a Federal Government dialogue team. This, they said, will give them confidence in the peace moves in the Niger Delta.

The group demanded the release of the 10 “innocent” school children arrested by the army on May 28 in Oporoza and others on “trumped up charges”.


Read More
The monarchs demanded for the return of the Golden Sword, the symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu traditional institution, and the three traditional council speed boats in the army’s custody.

They also demanded for cessation of hostilities perpetuated by the military in the Niger Delta.

The traditional rulers requested the government to make a categorical statement about the opening of the Maritime University-Okerenkoko, Delta State for academic activities in the 2016/2017 session.

 Kachikwu requested the stakeholders to embark on soul searching on the roles of traditional rulers, indigenes of the region and others in the application of the $40billion in 10 years.

According to him, the Federal Government is interested in releasing money for the development of the Niger Delta, if governance and transparency are addressed.

Kachikwu told his guests that unless the issue of transparency in the management of funds is solved before further release of cash, there will be no result.