PANDEF Calls For Greater Attention On South-South Infrastructure As It Sends 66 Hearty Cheers To Nigeria

On the occasion of Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has sent hearty felicitations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government and all Nigerians.

In a goodwill message signed by its National Chairman, Amb. Godknows B. Igali, PANDEF also saluted Governors of the South-South, political leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, women, youths and the entire people of the region for sustaining peace and progress.

PANDEF said despite daunting environmental challenges, with most parts of the six states waterlogged, the South-South, led by its Governors, continues to play sterling roles in infrastructural development as well as investment in human welfare and social development.

The Forum appreciated the developmental efforts contributed by intervention agencies in the area such as the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority and the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP.

It however, urged the Federal Government to pay greater attention to the state of infrastructure in the Niger Delta, especially the road network which it said has reached a proportion of national emergency.

“Equally, the question of environmental remediation which the area has had to bear for 70 years of oil pollution and gas flaring needs to be placed on the front burner,” the statement said.

PANDEF called on all Nigerians to pray assiduously for the continued peace and progress of Nigeria, quoting Psalm 127:1, “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain.”

“Once more, we wish the entire country great celebrations, peace and progress in the hands of Almighty God,” Amb. Igali added.