Nigerian problem; it’s not about the Niger Delta region – Robinson, PANDEF spokesman

In this interview with CHUKWUDI AKASIKE, the spokesman for the Pan Niger Delta Forum, Mr Ken Robinson, bares his mind on the increasing level of insecurity in the country and the way forward

What is your view on the claim in some quarters that most governors in the Niger Delta are profligate and not showing much interest in developing the oil bearing communities?

Well, it’s a Nigerian problem; it’s not about the Niger Delta region. We must also acknowledge the fact that what you use to construct a 10-kilometre solid road in the Niger Delta that will last over time can be used to construct a 100-kilometre road in some parts of Nigeria. We have very complex terrain and some people have said very seriously that it is nature that skewed the developmental difficulties in the area and put resources in that area as compensation. Unfortunately, the Nigerian state has captured the resources that nature has given the Niger Delta people and in turn returned peanuts to the people in the name of derivation from one per cent to three per cent and now, 13 per cent.

Oil bearing communities are already agitating that a large chunk of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund be given to them directly. Do you think the communities’ position is justified?

PANDEF is very sensitive about some of these issues. We are aware of the concerns and agitations. Beyond the Federal Government’s neglect and indifference to oil and gas producing communities, they think that the state governments are also not doing enough; that could be true. But when you begin to agitate that the 13 per cent derivation or some of it should go to host communities, there are other determinants and challenges that can come up and situations like that can throw up more crises in the Niger Delta region.