The Social Development Integrated Center, an advocacy group, has urged President Bola Tinubu to refuse to approve the withdrawal of International Oil Companies from the Niger Delta area.

The Center, also known as Social Action, stated that until a final, transparent, and enforceable system is created that forces these companies to address the social injustices and environmental damage that have been left behind in the Niger Delta, these approvals should be denied.

The center demanded that the Niger Delta Development Commission publish its procurement strategy every year in order to promote transparency in public spending and called for an all-encompassing cleanup program for the Niger Delta region.

Following a one-day Niger Delta multi-stakeholder development and accountability summit in Port Harcourt, a 16-point communiqué was released, which included the call.

The MacArthur Foundation provided sponsorship for the conference, which was organized by the Center and ICPC under the subject “Building the Niger Delta Hope: Collaborating for Inclusive Development and Public Accountability.”

In his keynote speech, ICPC Secretary Clifford Oparodu expressed regret that years of resource managers’ neglect had led to the region’s ongoing unrest and agitation for equitable resource distribution and control, which has evidently increased tension throughout the Niger Delta region.

Oparodu stated, “The concept note for this summit states clearly that the Niger Delta is the heartland of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon wealth and it plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economy as its primary oil producing region.

“It goes further to say that the discovery of crude oil in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State marked a significant turn in Nigeria’s economic fortune, as it accounts for 90 percent of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings and 80 percent of government budget.

“This rosy position should ordinarily translate to prosperity and development for the citizens and inhabitants of this region, but unfortunately that is not the case.

“Instead, what we see is widespread poverty. pollution, severe environmental degradation, decline and threat to traditional livelihoods, decaying social infrastructure, short-changing of the people and communities in infrastructural projects design and implementation, marginalization of the indigenous people by their own local leaders and others in the distribution of resources and opportunities accruing from the wealth of the land.

“These we have seen over the years have led to unrest and agitation for equitable resource distribution and control. This agitation has created palpable tension across the region over the years.”

In his welcome speech, Dr. Isaac Osuoka, the director of Social Action International, said that the summit’s goal was to restate Nigerians’ demands that President Bola Tinubu stop approving divestment plans until a clear, transparent, and legally binding mechanism exists that forces companies to take full responsibility for their environmental damage and social abuses in the Niger Delta.

Osuoka stated, “In our collective quest to redefine the future of the Niger Delta, today, we are confronted with an issue of paramount importance which demands urgency and conviction from our government and all stakeholders.

“The ongoing divestment process by international oil companies from onshore operations presents not merely a business transaction, but a profound moment of accountability for the environmental and social scars in the land and our communities.

“We cannot, and must not, advance toward a vision of sustainable development without securing a commitment to redress the extensive environmental pollution and social injustices that have marred our land and communities.

“Hence, today, we reiterate our demand on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, made by community members on the streets of Port Harcourt and by civil society leaders: No further divestment approvals should be granted to any international oil company, Shell in particular, until there is a definitive, enforceable, and transparent mechanism that compels these corporations to address their legacies of environmental degradation and social abuses in the Niger Delta comprehensively and ethically.”

He added that an end must to the era of “overlooking the ramifications of decades of environmental neglect and social disenfranchisement.”

He further enthused, “We demand concrete actions from President Tinubu that not only match the magnitude of the ecological devastation and community upheaval experienced, but also pave the way for healing and equitable progress.”

A communiqué given by Kelechi Amaechi at the summit’s conclusion called for the “protection of all NDDC projects and installations, and the removal of opacity in government and community businesses.”

“Monitoring and reporting all NDDC project execution to ensure quality. Civil society organizations must see themselves as part of the community And the adoption and promotion the National Ethics and Integrity Policy.

“Promote good governance at all levels – national, sub-national and community.

“Sanctions for non-compliance with Procurement Act and other statutory laws of the NDDC.

“Niger Delta youth should imbibe the culture of advocating for accountability, transparency – open data/budget and hard-work.

“Need for Niger Delta stakeholders to see all executed projects as their own and this will close the gap between the NDDC and the people of the Niger Delta region.”

The communiqué also insisted “That there should be inclusivity of all genders for effective collaboration especially during needs assessment.

“The NDDC should ensure that needs assessments are carried out in collaboration with various community stakeholders, among others.”