My Independence Message to Niger Delta…

By Fred Edoreh

Once, crude oil was described as black gold and it promised so much for the economic and physical development of the region.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian nation did not make the best of it to develop both the country and the region in particular.

Now, crude oil is no longer of premium value in the international market because the world is fast transiting to renewable energy.

Germany, we are told, has achieved 100% sufficiency. Some of the hitherto biggest buyers of our crude oil are attaining high level production and distribution in renewable energy such that, at some point in the very near future, they completely will no longer need our crude.

As we are told, the USA, India etc are currently hesitant to buy and we are now finding it difficult to reach old and new markets.

The signs are increasingly showing in the weakness of the Nigerian economy with less and less to share and the frequency of borrowings, no matter how hard we cover up with rhetorics.

The situation points to a certainty of economic malaise. If we do not take urgent and strong measures to redevelop our economy, there sure will be terrible consequences.

But, I feel more for the Niger Delta, not only because it’s natural resources would have been used, misused and discarded with nothing to show for it, but most especially if the leadership of the region continues to anchor their tomorrow on expected proceeds from sales of crude oil which is obviously losing value and market.

The regimes of derivation and NDDC interventions would surely come to an end and the region may be left with relics that would only serve to mock their past.

This realisation is coming even late, but never too late to think right. Now is the time to start re-inventing the region’s economy by conscious and concerted stimulation of its non-oil economic assets, even with the presently declining proceeds.

Truth is, with the advent and reliance on crude oil, the region lost its agriculture and neither is it a high player in industry and commerce. It must now retrace its steps to find space in high level agriculture, deeper industrialisation, higher tempo commerce and migrate the people into a globally appreciable knowledge based, technology driven and innovative work force.

Yes, it is not as easy as said. It takes time, processes and even disruptions of existing social and political cultures but they can achieve this by the deliberate mobilisation of political, community, business, youth, sectoral leaderships and professional expertise to build consensus, actions and cooperations on new directions. This is the only way to preserve the region.

The future is no longer about agitations. The region had fought the battle for resource control, suffered casualties in men, materials and whole communities, to no reasonable relief in development and, now, the resource is becoming less valuable.

We live in an increasingly capitalistic world that lacks sympathy. Once you lose value, the world will leave you behind in your depression and go on to new economic platforms.

Therefore, the imperative to reorganise the focus of the region to respond to the impending future and secure the economic destiny of the people cannot be over-emphasised.

To be fair, it would appear that the Niger Delta Governors seem to realise this as might be seen in some of their development policies and programmes but too little is still being done.

It must also be pointed out that this is not just a government thing. Indeed, it is an emergency that requires mass mobilisation, participation and action.

May we never come to the point of “had we known.” Niger Delta must make hay now…