Former agitators of the Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF) have strongly criticised the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over what they described as its failure to address deep-rooted poverty and underdevelopment in oil-producing communities across the region.
In a statement issued on Friday in Warri, Delta State, and signed by the group’s former spokesman, Captain Mark Anthony, the ex-fighters said years of intervention funding had not translated into meaningful improvements in the living conditions of Niger Delta residents, despite the region’s vast contribution to Nigeria’s economy.
The group accused the NDDC of drifting away from its core mandate, alleging that the interventionist agency had become a platform for political enrichment rather than a driver of development.
According to the statement, communities in the Niger Delta continue to grapple with a lack of basic amenities, including clean drinking water, healthcare facilities, electricity, motorable roads and standard school buildings.
They claimed that over 95 per cent of Ijaw communities remain without pipe-borne water, clinics or cottage hospitals, while poor infrastructure continues to entrench poverty and frustration among residents.
While acknowledging the relative peace currently enjoyed in the region, the former militants warned that the situation remains fragile.
They cautioned that continued neglect and poor governance could sow the seeds of renewed unrest, particularly among younger people who did not witness the violent consequences of past militancy.
The group urged the Federal Government to urgently review the utilisation of funds released to the NDDC over the years, insisting that accountability and transparency were critical to preventing a resurgence of agitation in the oil-rich region.
They also commended the Federal Government for awarding pipeline surveillance contracts to High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, through Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, describing the move as a stabilising factor in protecting national oil assets.
However, they stressed that security efforts alone were insufficient without parallel investments in social and economic development.
“The government should help High Chief Government Ekpemupolo’s efforts by not neglecting its responsibilities of providing social amenities in the oil-rich but poor Niger Delta region,” the statement said, adding that sustained neglect could have broader implications for national and global security.
The ex-agitators warned that unless concrete steps were taken to address long-standing grievances in the Niger Delta, future generations might question the continued marginalisation of oil-producing communities, with consequences that could extend beyond the region.
