N/Delta group backs Chief Clark on removal of Ondo, Abia, Imo from NDDC

By Peters Monday, Abuja

Niger Delta socio-cultural group, the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, has thrown its weight behind the call by High Chief Edwin Clark to remove Ondo, Abia and Imo States from Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

This is according to a statement by the group’s national president Comrade Ozobo Austin on Thursday.

The group said Ondo, Abia and the states do not produce crude oil in commercial quantities to be absorbed into Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

According to the group, the aforementioned States became members of NDDC through the backdoor, adding that High Chief Pa Edwin Clark was correct to have demanded the removal of the above-mentioned States from being members of the commission.

He said it was criminal for states whose quantum of production is as low as 60, 000 barrels per day to have enjoyed an equal share of the 13 per cent derivation with states that produced the bulk of the oil.

While expressing disappointment with the amended NDDC act, the group gave the production quotas of the affected States as Ondo – 60,000, bpd, Imo – 17, 000 bpd and Abia – 11,000 bpd.

The group said if this abnormality is not checked, it would get to a level where states with one oil well would be regarded as NDDC States.

The rights group, however, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the national assembly to immediately amend the NDDC act to remove the above-mentioned States from benefiting from NDDC.