A Niger Delta born Peace and Environmental Advocate, Comrade Sheriff Mulade has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to use the recovered $308M Abacha’s loots to develop the neglected oil producing communities in the Niger Delta Region.
Comrade Mulade, National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ ), who made the clarion call in Abuja, advised that the recovered Abacha’s loots should be channelled to the development of oil producing communities across the Federation, especially core states like Delta, Bayelsa and River States.
According to him, the recovered funds were proceeds of oil exploration activities from oil communities particularly from Akwa Ibom, Delta, Bayelsa and River States during the period General Sani Abacha was Head of State, adding that; “So the funds should be majorly used for infrastructural and human capital development of the people and the region to give them sense of belonging”.
“We should not repeat the same mistake a second time. Using the recovered funds for the construction of Lagos – Ibadan expressway, Abuja – Kano expressway and Second Niger bridge is a misplaced priority and an act of injustice to the oil producing communities and States”, he added.
The funds, he said, should be used mainly for the construction of projects that will create employment to reduce youth restiviness and engage the armed of youths in areas such as Marine Fisheries/ Aqua-cultural industries, Marine Forest Management Institutions and construction of roads and bridges linking towns and villages in the Coastal communities of the region.
Comrade Mulade made this appeals following the Federal Government planned use of the $308m recovery funds from former Head of State, Late General Sani Abacha for the construction of Lagos – Ibadan expressway, Abuja – Kano expressway and Second Niger bridge, which is a welcome development but appealed to President Buhari to include Niger Delta Coastal oil bearing communities where the funds in question were majorly extracted from and should be the focus and target for the developmental strides of President Buhari.
In his words; “If the fund is used for the infrastructural and human capital development of the oil bearing Communities, it will boost the marine economic growth and help alleviate poverty from the coastal communities “
He appealed to President Buhari not to allocate or share the fund to any Developmental Agencies in the Niger Delta Region rather the Federal Government should apply them directly to avoid corruption.
