Stakeholders call for urgent action to transform Niger Delta …Warn of economic and environmental risks

Stakeholders have raised fresh concerns over the environmental and economic state of the Niger Delta, describing the region as the circulatory system of Nigeria’s economy that continues to suffer the harsh effects of degradation, underdevelopment, and marginalisation.

Speaking on Wednesday at the second edition of Road to South-South: The National Convergence of the Renewed Hope Agenda held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, Senator Agom Jarigbe, addressing the gathering on behalf of other stakeholders, warned that neglecting the South-South, a region central to Nigeria’s economic survival was both untenable and dangerous.

“For decades, the South-South has powered national growth, supplying the oil and gas resources that fuel the federation.

“Yet, the region’s own arteries remain clogged by environmental pollution, economic exclusion, and recurring social unrest.

”This paradox of contributing massively to national wealth while remaining impoverished at home is the heart of the national question we must resolve, ” he said.

The lawmaker lauded the Office of the President, particularly the Senior Special Assistant on Communications, for convening a platform that seeks a shift “from rhetoric to roadmap, from grievance to strategy, and from isolation to collaboration.”

Speaking on the theme Transforming the South-South through Strategic Policy Intervention and Federal Collaboration, Jarigbe outlined three key areas requiring urgent attention.

Jarigbe called for a comprehensive Niger Delta Environmental Restoration and Sustainability Act, aimed at moving beyond temporary clean-ups to ensure full remediation of polluted lands and waterways.

He emphasised holding polluters accountable and establishing coordinated environmental monitoring systems.

The Senator stressed the need for a South-South blueprint to attract private investment into sectors such as gas processing, petrochemicals, the blue economy, tourism, and sustainable agriculture.

He also highlighted the importance of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Initiative, calling for a strong implementation footprint in the region to boost industrialisation and job creation.

Jarigbe warned that collaboration must not be limited to high-level meetings in Abuja but should translate into integrated action on the ground.

He called for alignment among the Federal Ministry of Works, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and state governments to complete critical infrastructure projects such as the East-West Road, seaport expansions in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Calabar, and modernization of interstate bridges.

Jarigbe also underscored the need for a coordinated security-development framework involving the armed forces, police, intelligence agencies, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and local community groups to protect critical infrastructure and promote legitimate economic activity.

Human capital development, he said, should include Centres of Excellence in energy and environmental studies, improved healthcare, and empowerment programmes targeted at oil-bearing communities.

“Security for pipelines must also mean security for people and their livelihoods,” he added.

He advocated for a compulsory Community Development Agreement (CDA) mechanism for all major projects to guarantee employment, procurement opportunities, and measurable social impact in host communities.

Traditional rulers and youth groups, Jarigbe stressed, must play central roles in planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

“Transforming the South-South is an overdue moral obligation and a prerequisite for national stability, economic resilience, and environmental justice,” he said, describing the region as “the unfinished business of nation-building.”

He urged all stakeholders to commit to actionable outcomes, warning, “let this convergence not be another talk shop.

”Let it be the launchpad for a new compact between the Federal Government, the South-South states, the private sector, and
Renewed Hope Agenda 2.0

In her welcome address, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South), Hon. Gift Johnbull, launched Road to South-South 2.0, describing it as a renewed push to deepen development and broaden the impact of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Johnbull highlighted the successes of the first edition, including Project Earn from the Soil, which empowered thousands of farmers with labour-saving machinery recognised by international partners and state governments.

She said the second edition will focus on agribusiness, renewable energy, education, and technology transfer, turning global training and investment into tangible local impact.

Johnbull stressed that the South-South is not only Nigeria’s oil belt but also an innovation hub, cultural heart, and a vital pillar for national unity and growth.