South-South Governors Driving Niger Delta Devt: Promises, Challenges, Road Ahead

The Niger Delta region of Nigeria, rich in nat­ural resources, has long been plagued by under­development, environmental degradation, and socio-econom­ic challenges. In recent years, the South-South Governors Fo­rum, a coalition of governors from the six states in the region, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross Riv­er, Delta, Edo, and Rivers, has taken steps toward transform­ing the area. However, while significant progress has been made, concerns persist regard­ing the pace and effectiveness of their initiatives.

This anyalysis explores the strategies, successes, and road­blocks encountered by the gov­ernors in their quest to develop the Niger Delta and highlights their perspectives on the jour­ney so far.

The South-South Governors Forum, led by its chairman and Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has become a plat­form for collaboration on eco­nomic growth, security, and infrastructural development. Since its reactivation in 2020, the forum has focused on key areas such as resource control, fiscal federalism, and infra­structural expansion.

During a recent meeting in Asaba, Governor Oborevwori emphasised the forum’s com­mitment: “We have resolved to work together as one region, leveraging our resources and potentials to bring sustainable development to our people.”

Similarly, former Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, in his hey days, has repeated­ly stressed the need for a shift from oil dependency to indus­trialisation. He remarked: “We cannot continue to rely solely on crude oil revenue; we must expand our economic base through agriculture, technolo­gy, and industrialisation.”

The forum has prioritised infrastructure, especially road networks, bridges, and coastal transport systems to improve connectivity within the region. The construction and expan­sion of the East-West Road, which links several Niger Delta states, remains a critical proj­ect.

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State lauded the ef­forts being made, noting: “De­spite financial constraints, we are committed to ensuring that our people benefit from good roads, efficient transport sys­tems, and sustainable urban development.”

However, while some prog­ress has been made, criticisms persist about slow implemen­tation. The Rivers State Gov­ernment, under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has high­lighted the need for the federal government’s support in com­pleting abandoned projects. In his words: “We can’t develop in isolation. The Niger Delta re­mains Nigeria’s economic back­bone, and we demand adequate federal attention.”

Recognising the vulnerabil­ities of a mono-economy, the South-South governors have been advocating for economic diversification. In Akwa Ibom, Governor Umo Eno has cham­pioned industrial expansion, leading initiatives such as the Ibom Deep Seaport and the Ibom Air project.

“We are not just talking; we are acting,” he stated. “The Ibom Deep Seaport will unlock economic potentials and cre­ate thousands of jobs for our youth.”

In Delta State, the govern­ment is focused on agribusiness and manufacturing. Governor Oborevwori emphasised: “With investments in agriculture, we can feed our people, generate revenue, and reduce dependen­cy on oil.”

Despite these efforts, experts argue that industrialisation in the region is hampered by poor electricity supply, lack of investor confidence due to insecurity, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.

Without a doubt, one of the biggest challenges confront­ing the South-South governors is insecurity. The region has been a hotbed for militancy, oil bunkering, sea piracy, and communal clashes. Although amnesty programs and securi­ty collaborations have helped to an extent, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River insists that more must be done.

“We need sustained federal and regional efforts to curb insecurity. We must tackle un­employment, which fuels youth restiveness.”

To combat crime, the gov­ernors have explored regional security initiatives, including intelligence sharing and com­munity policing. The recent re­activation of the BRACED Com­mission, a regional economic development initiative, also seeks to provide employment as a way to address insecurity.

Another significant issue affecting development in the Niger Delta is environmental degradation due to oil spills, gas flaring, and deforestation. The governors have consistent­ly called on oil companies to im­plement stricter environmental standards and fulfill their cor­porate social responsibilities.

Governor Diri, during an environmental summit, de­cried the situation: “Our land is suffering. We demand an end to environmental neglect. Oil companies must clean up their mess and give back to the com­munities they have exploited for decades.”

Despite the launch of initia­tives such as the Ogoni Clean- Up project, progress has been slow, prompting renewed calls for urgent intervention.

A recurring demand from the South-South Governors Forum is the push for true federalism and increased resource control. They argue that states in the Ni­ger Delta should have greater autonomy over their resources to drive development.

It will be recalled in this context that former Governor Obaseki had expressed his stance strongly: “We contribute immensely to the national econ­omy but get little in return. We demand a fairer revenue-shar­ing formula that reflects our contributions.”

The forum has consistently advocated for an upward review of the 13% oil derivation fund and has engaged the federal government in discussions on state policing, fiscal autonomy, and regional development fund­ing.

Unarguably pushing for the realisation of their collective dream, the governors recent­ly threw their weight behind the ongoing tax reforms of the President Bola Tinubu admin­istration, viewing it as a crucial step toward realising their col­lective vision for the region.

In a communiqué read by the Bayelsa State Governor and Chairman of the South- South Governors’ Forum, Sen­ator Douye Diri, the governors urged the president to extend the proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) sharing formula to other areas of derivation, particular­ly oil and gas. They argued that while the current law mandates a minimum of 13% derivation for oil-producing states, the fed­eral government should consid­er increasing this percentage to ensure greater economic bene­fits for the region.

The forum also commended President Tinubu for award­ing and commencing work on the coastal road project but stressed the need for the project to start from the Calabar axis to enhance connectivity and stim­ulate economic development. Additionally, they expressed ap­preciation for the ongoing work on the East-West Road, calling for its speedy completion.

Beyond infrastructure, the governors sought federal inter­vention in extending the ongo­ing Ogoni land remediation to other polluted areas in the re­gion. They also reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a structured security network to bolster safety across South- South states.

During the forum’s meeting at Government House, Yenagoa, the governors unanimously elected Senator Douye Diri as chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, with Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, emerging as vice chairman. The nomination of Diri was moved by Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and seconded by Rivers State Governor, Simina­layi Fubara.

In his acceptance speech, Diri described his appoint­ment as a call to higher ser­vice, pledging to work with all governors in the region to drive development beyond communi­qués and toward concrete ac­tion. He emphasised the need for South-South states to speak with one voice, collaborate on regional investments, and de­velop key sectors such as se­curity, agriculture, education, power, tourism, and youth em­powerment.

He further identified the need for a South-South region­al flight connection to facilitate air travel within the zone and enhance economic integration.

In their remarks, Governors Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Obor­evwori (Delta), and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers) commended Diri for hosting the meeting and setting a clear roadmap for regional collaboration. They acknowledged that previous ef­forts under the BRACED (Bayel­sa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo, and Delta) Commis­sion had not yielded the desired results and expressed hope that this renewed direction under Diri’s leadership would foster regional prosperity.

The governors further stressed that fostering a unified stance would signal to the feder­al government the urgent need for attention to the region’s economic and infrastructural development. They also urged members to set aside political affiliations to achieve their shared objectives.

While the South-South Governors Forum has taken commendable steps towards developing the Niger Delta, challenges remain. Infrastruc­ture projects must be acceler­ated, security issues must be tackled decisively, and econom­ic diversification efforts must be deepened.

The governors must also ensure transparency and ac­countability in resource man­agement to win public trust. Only a united front, backed by strong policies and federal col­laboration, can truly transform the Niger Delta into a prosper­ous and sustainable region.

As the forum continues its mission, one question lingers: Will the promises of today translate into tangible progress for the people of the Niger Delta tomorrow?