South-South Coalition Demands Comprehensive Reform of NDDC, Amnesty Programme

The South-South Revolutionary Coalition (SOSORC) has called for an urgent review of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), and other regional intervention initiatives to align with present-day socioeconomic imperatives.

The group made the call at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday. Cicero Afure, Esq., the coalition’s leader, emphasized their commitment to principled and transparent advocacy aimed at transforming the South-South into a modernized regional bloc. He cited progressive oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia, Norway, and the United Arab Emirates as benchmarks for sustainable development.

Cicero said after a careful review of the historic agitations by the people of the Niger-Delta, “We have come to the conclusions that some of the past self-acclaimed ex-Niger-Delta agitators and ex-militant leaders, betrayed our people by conniving with the oppressive government of Nigeria, to exploit the tears, struggles, suffering and the pains of our people.”

SOSORC therefore declared that the NDDC has failed in its mandate, “we demand that the federal government should review the activities of the NDDC, PAP and other intervention body of the region to reflect the current needs of the people and end the politicization of NDDC and all other Niger-Delta intervention bodies by engaging accountable and professional personalities, to implement the developmental programs of the agencies for the interests of the people.

“SOSORC reiterate that the federal government should as matter of urgency address the problems of oil spillage, environmental degradation and provide compensation for the damages suffered, due to oil exploration that has deprived our people of healthy living condition, destroy our farmlands and deprived our parents of sustainable means of livelihood.

“That, whatever settlement, amnesty, understanding and resolution reached by the ex-Niger Delta militant leaders and the Federal Government of Nigeria is not binding on the modern youths of the South-South region, and does not represent the interest of non-violent agitators who are the majority, therefore it does not represent the people’s interest.

“We also demand that FGN should as matter of urgency developed and re-open the seaports in Delta, Rivers and other parts of the South-South region to enhance job creation, meaning youths engagement and economic development of the people

“SOSORC disagrees with the current 13% derivation provided for the oil producing States, we demand for true federalism, equitable distribution of the nation resources and reiterate the agitation for resource control as advocated for by the 1999 league of Niger-Delta Governors.

“SOSORC posits that failure of the government to timely address the above mentioned demands will result to taking any necessary legitimate means available to us to further the pursuit of our agitations against the federal government of Nigeria and the multi-national oil companies that has exposed the youths and people of the south-south to poverty and hunger in the means of abundance of wealth and resources being exploited from us.”

Cicero however, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the establishment of South-South Development Commission (SSDC), and demanded the inclusion of youths in the commission.