Niger-Delta region has no business with poverty — Falana

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, says with the rich mineral resources deposits in Niger-Delta, its people have no business with poverty.

He called on the federal government to stop the brutal exploitation of the people of the region.

Falana also demanded accountability and justice for the people of Niger Delta.

The senior lawyer said this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital during the Ken Saro-Wiwa 30th Anniversary Memorial Lecture, with the theme; “Ken Saro-Wiwa, The Man, His Legacies, Struggles and Challenges”.

Falana emphasized that the people of Niger Delta have no business being poor given that the region is blessed with natural resources.

“People of the Niger Delta have no business with poverty, you should live a life of prosperity based on your wealth and that is why this brutal exploitation must stop,” he said.

The human rights lawyer equally urged the Rivers State government to enact a law that would ensure special allocation to oil-producing areas from the 13% derivation fund from the federal government.

He noted that under the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, 3% of oil company operations should be increased to 5% for host community development, and called for accountability in the utilization of these funds.

“Rivers state, you must have a similar law that will make special allocation to the oil producing areas of Rivers State out of the 13 percent derivation.

“Under the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, section 257 says that 3 % from the operation of the oil company will be set aside for the development of the Host Community.

“So oil communities should decide to have more than 3 percent but by May this Year, the CEO, NUPRC announced that about N97 billion and $150 million have to go to the Host Community, then all of us must be interested and ensure accountability with respect to these figures being announced by the government,” he added.