Electrification of Niger Delta Rural communities is Desideratum -Editorial

May 11, 2023

Niger Delta is a peculiar region in Nigeria considering the geopolitical location and topography. The area is situated in a low plane, very swampy and surrounded by estuaries and small rivers and unmotorable. This is the part of the country that produces the bulk of the country’s revenue. It has been undergoing ecological challenges arising from oil exploitation and exploration activities. But the area is yet to be connected to the national grid.

Despite the fact that it produces the bulk oil resources, the residents live in a total blackout since the discovery of oil in commercial quantities in 1958 in the country. Congress News Niger Delta Focus’ visit to some of the oil producing communities revealed that except this power challenges are addressed with urgency, it may rebirth another phase of Niger Delta oil war, as residents are aggrieved over the ugly menace.

The sad part of it is that areas and political zones that do not produce a drop of oil are enjoying government’s steady power supply. This is a perceived injustice done to the region. It has been suggested that the money gotten from the massive crude oil in the region should be used to develop the people. This is a burning issue in the core oil producing communities in the region.

The Government of Nigeria appeared to be lopsided and sectional. It pays little attention to these oil producing communities. It has displayed insensitivity in the handling of issues of this magnitude over the years. This has resulted in counterattacks on the nation’s oil facilities.

Niger Delta rural, riverine and oil producing communities need the provision of electricity. These core areas should be electrified. This will drastically reduce the fraying nerves in the region. It should be known that peace will be far from a place of no equal rights and opportunities. This is viewed as a deliberate attempt to starve and punish those who lay the golden egg in the country.

States affected include all the riverine and Oil producing communities in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River Imo and others.

Tackling this menace will definitely boost the economic lives of the people in the region. It will attract investors, it will create job and will annex other numerous untapped opportunities and bring to the barest minimum in the region, hostilities.

From Congress newspaper.