Date Published: 11/11/09

Sir,

N300 billion for Niger Delta development paltry

Many people have been praying that the President should not allow the amnesty gains to be slowed down or wiped by the bureaucracy in the system. Before the amnesty, there exist so many reports (commissioned by the government and other groups and persons) on how to solve the Niger Delta crisis. All that is required now is to dust most of such reports, pick few urgent issues and start implementation. For instance, starting a prototype new towns as propagated by the former Akwa Ibom Governor, Architect Obong Attah should be seen by the President as one of such things to be tackled right away without much time wasting as it would please the people of the area.

The 10% equity in the downstream sector of the economy which is now to benefit the Niger Delta communities should not be delayed by the Senate and should start immediately; the Niger Delta State governors must not be part of this because of the evident profligacy and corruption most of them are deep-neck in.

When you consider that Akwa Ibom State, blessed with better terrain than most other Niger Delta States, claim that it has spent more than N200billion (on roads alone) within the last two years, then the little above N300billion initial fund, which the federal government is about to provide for development of the entire Niger Delta region as a palliative, is to say the least, not an amount that would make any appreciable impact.

Discontentment has been the order of the day among the ex-militants about the way the Federal government is handling the matter of the post-amnesty to the point that most of them are regretting surrendering their arms the way they did.

Nwadi Okoro,

Plot 324 Wetheral Road,

Owerri, Imo State