A member of the Board of Trustees of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, has said the Niger Delta must demand accountability, environmental restoration and economic opportunities from political leaders ahead of the 2027 general election. In this exclusive interview with Blessing Ibunge, the elder statesman discusses environmental degradation, the implementation of the region’s development agenda, among other issues.
You have been involved in the Niger Delta struggle for many years. How will you describe the state of the region today?
The Niger Delta has experienced significant challenges over the years, including the loss of prominent leaders who championed the region’s interests. Their contributions to the struggle for justice, equity and development must not be forgotten. Historically, the region has demanded a fairer share of the resources generated from its oil and gas wealth. Several policies and institutions were introduced to address these concerns, including the derivation principle, development interventions and the presidential amnesty programme. However, the fundamental question remains whether these measures have translated into meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary people, particularly those living in oil-producing communities. We have institutions and funding arrangements intended to promote development, but many communities continue to face poverty, unemployment, environmental pollution and inadequate infrastructure. The Niger Delta is not asking for special treatment. It is asking for justice, environmental protection and the opportunity to benefit meaningfully from the resources extracted from its land and waters.
Successive administrations introduced interventions to address the region’s concerns. Why do you think the impact remains limited?
The problem is the gap between policy announcements and implementation. The region has witnessed several initiatives, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the amnesty programme and other development arrangements. More recently, the Petroleum Industry Act introduced provisions for host community development through host community development trusts.These initiatives have potential, but their success depends on transparency, accountability and effective implementation.
We must ask whether the communities most affected by oil production can point to improved healthcare, education, roads, clean water and sustainable employment. Development interventions should not be measured simply by the amount of money announced or allocated. They should be measured by their impact on people’s lives. The federal and state governments, development agencies and relevant industry operators must work together to ensure that resources intended for the region produce visible results.
What would you identify as the most urgent development priority for the Niger Delta?
Environmental remediation is one of the region’s most urgent priorities. The Niger Delta’s land, rivers, creeks and mangrove forests are essential to the livelihoods of millions of people. Oil pollution, gas flaring and other environmental pressures threaten fishing, farming, public health and economic activity. The Ogoni cleanup should provide important lessons for a broader environmental restoration programme across the region. Remediation must be guided by sound scientific methods, independent monitoring and measurable standards. We cannot talk meaningfully about agricultural development when the soil is contaminated. We cannot promote fisheries when waterways are polluted. We cannot develop a sustainable blue economy without protecting marine ecosystems. Environmental restoration should therefore be treated as an economic investment, not merely an environmental obligation. Government should establish clear priorities, publish implementation timelines and ensure that communities can monitor progress. Oil-producing communities should also be involved in decisions affecting their environment.
Some officials and institutions have discussed extending environmental clean-up beyond Ogoniland. What would make such an initiative credible?
The key is to move from promises to implementation. Extending remediation to other polluted communities would be an important step, it must be supported by adequate fundiång, technical expertise and a transparent implementation framework. There should be a comprehensive assessment of polluted sites across the Niger Delta, followed by a clear schedule identifying priority communities and the work required in each location. Independent environmental experts should verify the results, while host communities should participate in monitoring the process. We must also pay attention to gas flaring. Where flaring continues, the responsible authorities should establish the facts, enforce applicable regulations and ensure that affected communities are protected. PANDEF has consistently emphasised the importance of dialogue and regional development. Environmental restoration deserves the same level of attention as other major economic and infrastructure projects.
How important is environmental cleanup to the region’s economic future?
It is fundamental. The Niger Delta has enormous economic potential beyond oil and gas. We have opportunities in agriculture, aquaculture, deep-sea fishing, tourism, transportation and other maritime activities. However, these sectors cannot reach their potential if environmental degradation continues.
Take fisheries, for example. A viable fishing industry creates employment for fishermen, fish processors, transporters, traders and people involved in the supply of equipment and other services. The same principle applies to agriculture, which supports a broad network of production, processing, distribution and marketing activities. Tourism can also create opportunities for young people, particularly through cultural festivals, traditional performances, hospitality, filmmaking and the promotion of local heritage.
Our mangrove ecosystems also deserve greater attention because they can contribute to carbon sequestration and potentially support credible carbon-credit initiatives where environmental and regulatory requirements are met. The objective should be to transform the Niger Delta from a region primarily associated with oil extraction into a diversified economy where communities can earn sustainable livelihoods. Oil should be a blessing to the region, not a source of lasting environmental and economic hardship.
PANDEF previously presented a 16-point agenda to the federal government. How would you assess its implementation?
The 16-point agenda emerged from consultations intended to address longstanding concerns about development, environmental protection, infrastructure and the relationship between the Niger Delta and the federal government. Our concern is that implementation has fallen considerably short of expectations.
From our assessment, only a limited portion of the agenda has been addressed. The remaining issues require sustained engagement between the federal government, state governments, regional institutions and community representatives. The agenda should not be treated as a document produced for political convenience. It represents concerns that require practical solutions. There should be a transparent review of its implementation, with each outstanding item assigned clear responsibilities and timelines.
The region needs a structured engagement process through which government can explain what has been achieved, what remains outstanding and how the unresolved issues will be addressed.
With the 2027 general election approaching, what should Niger Delta people demand from candidates seeking their votes?
The 2027 election presents an opportunity for the people to insist on development that can be measured. Candidates should explain what they intend to do about environmental pollution, unemployment, infrastructure, education, healthcare and the effective use of resources allocated to the region.
They should also explain how they intend to support economic diversification so that young people are not left with limited opportunities outside the oil and gas industry.
The electorate must look beyond campaign promises and examine candidates’ records, policies and capacity to deliver. Political parties should present clear programmes for the Niger Delta rather than relying solely on political alliances and personalities. The region has made substantial contributions to the Nigerian economy. Its people are entitled to demand responsible leadership and tangible development in return. My advice is that voters should make informed choices based on issues that affect their communities and families.
What is your assessment of the federal government’s economic policies, particularly the removal of petrol subsidy and its consequences for households?
The major concern is the effect of economic reforms on ordinary Nigerians and the adequacy of measures introduced to cushion their impact. The removal of petrol subsidy and changes in foreign-exchange policy have contributed to a difficult economic adjustment, with significant pressure on transportation, food prices and the cost of living. Economic reforms require careful planning, effective communication and social protection measures. Government must consider how policy changes affect workers, small businesses, farmers, traders and vulnerable households.
My position is that the government should remain open to public feedback and be prepared to adjust its approach where evidence shows that existing measures are not delivering the desired results.
Citizens need policies that promote economic stability, employment and improved purchasing power. The government should also strengthen public accountability and ensure that anti-corruption institutions carry out their responsibilities professionally and impartially. The success of any administration should ultimately be judged by improvements in people’s living conditions, not merely by official pronouncements.
How should the political class in Rivers State approach the coming elections, particularly amid political divisions?
Rivers State belongs to its people, and the democratic process should reflect their collective choices.
Political disagreements are part of democracy, but they should not prevent the state from pursuing development. Leaders must recognise that political authority comes through the constitutional process and that no individual should determine the political future of an entire state. The priority should be peaceful participation, credible elections and respect for the will of the electorate. Citizens should register where necessary, obtain their permanent voter’s cards and participate in the electoral process. They should also insist on transparency in the conduct and collation of results. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has an important responsibility to administer elections impartially, while political parties and their supporters must respect the law. Disputes should be addressed through lawful procedures rather than intimidation or violence. Ultimately, Rivers people should be free to choose their leaders without fear, and elected officials should be accountable to the people who gave them their mandate.
What is your message to political leaders and institutions responsible for developing the Niger Delta?
They must place the people’s welfare at the centre of their decisions. The region needs a coordinated development strategy that brings together environmental restoration, infrastructure, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, education and employment generation. Governments should work with host communities, development institutions and responsible private-sector investors to create opportunities that will endure beyond individual administrations. There must also be transparency in the management of development funds. Communities deserve to know what has been allocated, what has been spent and what results have been achieved. Political leaders should understand that development is not simply about distributing money or announcing projects. It is about building systems that enable people to live healthier, safer and more productive lives.
Finally, what would you like to see achieved in the Niger Delta over the next few years?
I want to see a Niger Delta where people can fish without fear of pollution, farm productive land, access good healthcare and education, and find meaningful employment. I want to see environmental remediation extended to affected communities, gas flaring addressed through effective enforcement, and development funds used transparently. I also want to see the region’s cultural heritage, waterways and natural attractions developed responsibly to support tourism and local enterprise.
The 2027 general election should provide an opportunity for citizens to demand these changes from those seeking public office. Our resources should support development, our environment should be protected, and our young people should have opportunities to build their futures at home.
The Niger Delta has the human and natural resources to contribute even more to Nigeria’s prosperity. What is required is responsible leadership, effective implementation of policies and a sustained commitment to the welfare of the people.