PANDEF to Tinubu: South-south Grossly Shortchanged in N3.9tn Road Projects

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), an apex body representing the oil-rich South-south geopolitical zone, has strongly challenged the Federal Government's allocation of N3.9 trillion for road infrastructure projects. PANDEF declared that the South-south region has been "grossly shortchanged" despite being Nigeria's economic backbone through its oil and gas resources.

The socio-political organization urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently review the project distribution, warning that the continued neglect of the Niger Delta deepens infrastructure deficits and fuels feelings of alienation. Ambassador Godknows Igali, PANDEF National Chairman, commended the president's focus on infrastructure but argued that the pattern of project distribution lacked fairness, equity, and justice.

According to Igali, the South-south was virtually excluded from the 26 major highway projects approved across 15 states. Only the Benue-Cross River road project, valued at N886 billion, was noted as being somewhat close to the region. He described this exclusion as "troubling and shocking," emphasizing that none of the approved projects traversed the core South-south states, despite the region's significant economic contribution.

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While we commend President Bola Tinubu and his cabinet for this commitment to infrastructure development, we in the South-south lament that our region has once again been grossly shortchanged with very insignificant allocation from this huge investment.

PANDEF stated that this exclusion reinforces decades of neglect in the Niger Delta and raises serious concerns about the Federal Government's commitment to equitable national development. Communities across the region remain disconnected by dilapidated road networks, and infrastructure continues to deteriorate despite the area's vast contribution to Nigeria's oil and gas earnings.

Igali lamented the slow progress on the East-West Road, a project he described as a symbol of failed infrastructure delivery. He expressed disappointment over repeated assurances from the Federal Ministry of Works that the project would be completed expeditiously, noting that its poor state continues to hinder development in the region.

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The neglect of the region amounted to starving 'the goose that lays the golden egg,' warning that continued marginalisation could heighten frustration among the people of the Niger Delta.