As Nigeria marked its 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) demanded urgent government action to fix long-abandoned infrastructure in the oil-rich region, warning that continued neglect threatens national progress.
In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Ambassador Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, PANDEF said the anniversary should be more than “fanfare and speeches” — it must mark a turning point in addressing decades of underdevelopment in the Niger Delta.
The group listed critical projects left in limbo, including the East–West Road, Benin–Auchi Road, Benin–Warri Road, and dormant seaports in Port Harcourt, Calabar, Onne, and Warri, describing them as “lifelines for economic renewal” that the Federal Government has failed to deliver.
“The continued neglect of the region that sustains Nigeria’s economy is unacceptable,” PANDEF declared. “Without urgent attention to these projects, the nation’s quest for growth will remain a mirage.”
While congratulating President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians on the milestone, the group commended South-South governors for their leadership but insisted that rhetoric must now give way to action.
PANDEF also urged governments at all levels to tackle insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and hunger, which it said are stifling millions of Nigerians.
Reaffirming its readiness to partner with the Federal Government and state leaders, the group stressed that the Niger Delta remains central to Nigeria’s prosperity.
“At 65, Nigeria must move from promises to performance. The Niger Delta deserves justice, development, and a decisive role in driving national progress,” the statement concluded.
Ambassador Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali
