The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has criticised the exclusion of the Niger Delta from the Federal Government’s recently announced N3.9 trillion road projects covering 15 states, describing the development as unfair to the oil-producing region.

The group, founded by the late Edwin Clark, said the Niger Delta deserves greater investment in infrastructure, given its strategic contribution to Nigeria’s economy.

PANDEF called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to review the list of approved road projects to ensure the region is adequately represented.

Speaking on behalf of the group, PANDEF National Leader, Ambassador Godknows Boladei Igali, said the omission of the Niger Delta amounts to short-changing the region and raises serious concerns about equitable distribution of federal infrastructure projects.

He urged the Federal Government to address the imbalance by including critical road projects that would improve connectivity and support economic development across the Niger Delta.

“The Board of Trustees and the National Exco of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) have noted the outcome of the recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held on Monday, 29th June, 2026, in which, according to the briefing by Government officials afterwards, a huge sum of #3.9 trillion was approved for road infrastructure projects across the country.”

He added, “While commending His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his cabinet on this commitment towards the physical infrastructure of the country, we in the South-South lament the fact that our region has again been grossly short-changed with a very insignificant allocation of projects from this humongous sum.

“It is indeed troubling and shocking that out of the 26 major projects, covering 15 states, the only one nearest to the South-South of the country is the road connecting Benue State with Cross River State at the sum of #86 billion, with absolutely no allocation for any other road that runs through major parts of the South-South.

“For a part of the country that has continually suffered inexplicable infrastructural decay, this state of affairs has resulted in the inability of the citizens of the region to easily connect with each other by road. This is very disturbing and totally unacceptable to the people of the Niger Delta.”

“The people of Niger Delta therefore call on Mr. President to look into this matter with a view to reversing the situation, bearing in mind that the Niger Delta region is the revenue base of the country,” he added.

PANDEF also lamented the slow pace of work on the East-West Road, saying it “has become a metaphor for a failed project with no reasonable work going on, despite assurances by the Minister of Works of speedy completion.

“This consistent pattern is a sad reminder that all the major ports in the area, to wit – Calabar, Onne, Port Harcourt, Warri, are virtually abandoned with no plan In place for their rehabilitation, modernisation or upgrade.

“The above situation is a typical demonstration of the infamous inference to “starving the goose that lays the golden egg.” Undoubtedly, such continued relegation of our people creates feelings of systemic alienation and disenchantment.”

He, however, reassured the Federal Government and Nigerians, “that the people of the Niger Delta will continue to create the right enabling environment for enhanced contribution to national economic development and growth, especially through increased oil and gas production. We therefore look forward to being treated with greater fairness, equity, and justice. (The Nation)

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