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Communities In Oil-rich Niger Delta Poorest In Nigeria – Report

Published

4 years ago

September 28, 2022

A new report by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has shown that towns in the Niger Delta live in deplorable conditions.

The findings do not corroborate the enormous wealth derived from locations in the region where the Nigerian government generates majority of its revenue.

The 82-page report SERAP launched on Wednesday in Lagos is titled: ‘We Are All Vulnerable Here: How Lack of Transparency and Accountability is Fuelling Human Rights Violations in the Niger Delta’.

The report, presented by Dr. Olubunmi Afinowi of the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), stressed that “communities in the Niger Delta remain the poorest in the country”.

The academic decried that the South-South “remains deeply in the grips of squalor, poverty, and environmental degradation”.

The report shows corruption contributing to poverty and consequential suffering of many people in the Niger Delta.

SERAP said the right of the people to a clean, safe and healthy environment is routinely violated and abused by the government and oil companies.

“Social, economic, and environmental degeneration has largely affected the lifestyles and wellbeing of the people. Also apparent is the continued disregard and abuse of the human rights of the people”, the group noted.

In his reaction, Femi Falana, SAN, declared that management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by interim administrators was illegal.

Falana advised the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, to advise President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently reconstitute the NDDC board of directors.

The lawyer said since the appointment of interim administrators is unknown to the NDDC Act, the contracts awarded by them are null and void.

The rights activist called on the government to release the report of the forensic audit of the NDDC to enable communities to demand accountability from contractors who collected funds but abandoned projects.

The event was attended by Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, John Etim; ICPC Chairman, represented by Dr Grace Chinda; NEITI Executive Secretary, represented by Kareem Lamidi; Dina Sabi, Second Secretary, Embassy of Netherlands.

Director-General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR), represented by Egbe Ekpe; AGF Malami represented by Barrister Raji Rasaki; NHRC Executive Secretary, represented by Saliu Musa; Niger Delta leaders, among others.

SERAP urged President Buhari to instruct the Ministries of Niger Delta, Humanitarian Affairs, and other agencies overseeing the NDDC to publish the 2021 forensic report on NDDC.

The organization urged the National Assembly to ensure that the relevant committees collaborate to initiate enquiries and fact-finding on how public funds have been spent by government parastatals.
DAILY POST

Related Topics:communities Niger Delta SERAP

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Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

29 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

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Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

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Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

7 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.