BOT, National Executive Of PANDEF Meet In Abuja, Issue 48-Point Communique

The Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, held a joint meeting in Abuja and virtually on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Obong Victor Attah, and the National Chairman, Amb. Dr. Godknows Igali, alongside other members of the Board, members of the National Executive Committee and state chairmen.

Also in attendance were former governors, former ministers, first-class traditional rulers, political leaders, opinion leaders and other eminent stakeholders from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers States.

The meeting paid tribute to the founding fathers of PANDEF who, ten years ago, brought together various organizations in the region including the South-South Peoples Assembly, South-South Council of Elders, TROMPCON, HOSTCOM and other ethnic organizations under one umbrella.

Tributes were also paid to late leaders including Chief Dr. E.K. Clark, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, pioneer National Chairman, Senator Joseph Wayas, Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Tonye Graham-Douglas, and several traditional rulers and elder statesmen.

The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the South-South people to unity, peace, stability and sustainable development, stressing the need to focus on social development, infrastructural renewal, economic advancement and peaceful coexistence among ethnic nationalities.

It underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between PANDEF, the six state governors, National Assembly members, traditional rulers, the business community and other stakeholders.

The meeting reviewed PANDEF’s activities over the last decade, including its 16-point agenda presented to former President Muhammadu Buhari on November 1, 2016.

It noted significant progress, including the establishment of the South-South Development Commission, advocacy for greater participation in the oil and gas industry, commencement of activities at the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko and upgrade of the Maritime Academy, Oron, as well as demands for accelerated infrastructural development and operationalization of seaports in the region.

The leadership was commended for its contributions to restoring peace in Rivers State and its efforts to resolve the dispute over oil wells between Akwa Ibom and Cross River States and improve inter-ethnic relations in Warri.

PANDEF reaffirmed that environmental protection and remediation remains at the forefront of its advocacy, observing that after more than six decades of oil exploration, communities continue to suffer degradation.

It called attention to ongoing pollution in Nembe Creek in Bayelsa, Odidi in Delta and Kula in Rivers, calling for adequate and transparent funding of the Ogoni clean-up and a comprehensive framework to replicate remediation across the Niger Delta.

It also called on presidential candidates of political parties to present practical and time-bound plans for environmental justice in the region.

The Forum commended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to modernise and upgrade the ports of Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar, and welcomed approvals for deep-sea port projects including Ibom Deep Sea Port, Bonny Deep Sea Port and Agge Deep Sea Port.

It urged the Federal Government to establish a sustainable financing framework for the projects comparable to arrangements for Lagos ports.

On the 750km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, PANDEF noted the Federal Government’s decision to retain the original alignment as a legacy project, describing it as historic and crucial for connectivity of coastal communities. It resolved to set up a high-level technical committee to assist the Federal Ministry of Works.

The meeting also called for a North-South rail connection to link the region with the rest of the country.

PANDEF noted that Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution provides for not less than 13% derivation to oil-producing states, a figure unchanged for over two decades despite enormous environmental burdens.

It therefore, called for an increase in derivation from the current minimum of 13% to a minimum of 50% and urged the Federal Government, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the National Assembly to abolish the onshore/offshore dichotomy in revenue allocation.

The meeting recalled PANDEF’s engagement on gas development, noting that the Niger Delta holds over 209 trillion standard cubic feet of gas reserves. It called for accelerated investment in gas infrastructure, power generation, mini-LNG, LPG and CNG hubs and petrochemicals.

On modular refineries, PANDEF called on the Federal Government to give renewed priority to the initiative with appropriate financing, licensing and environmental compliance frameworks.

It also identified agriculture, particularly palm oil, rice, cassava and vegetables, as a key diversification opportunity and called for a coordinated agricultural development programme by Federal and state governments.

The Forum expressed intention to explore establishment of a South-South Investment Fund to pool resources for critical economic sectors.

On the state of the nation ahead of the 2027 general elections, PANDEF called on South-South people to exercise their civic responsibilities peacefully and vote according to their conscience.

The meeting reiterated PANDEF’s commitment to constructive engagement with all stakeholders, stressing that the development of the Niger Delta is inseparable from the development of Nigeria.

The communique was signed by Obong Arc. Victor Attah, Chairman, Board of Trustees and Amb. Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, National Chairman.