Tinubu Urged by PANDEF to Ensure Competent Leadership for South-South Development

Stressing the value of strong leadership in promoting sustainable progress in the region, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to make sure that qualified and experienced people are chosen to head the recently formed South-South Development Commission.
PANDEF’s National Chairman, Ambassador Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, released a statement in which the forum praised the President for enacting the South-South Development Commission Bill.
Additionally, the group thanked the National Assembly for enabling the legislative procedure that resulted in its prompt passage.

According to PANDEF, “this one action has increased our people’s confidence in the Federal Government’s commitment to fostering even regional development across Nigeria.” “Efforts to address the particular social, environmental, and developmental challenges facing the South-South region are also affirmed.”

PANDEF praised the commission’s creation but emphasized that the ability and moral character of people chosen to serve as its leaders would determine how well it worked.

The group urged President Tinubu to give merit and experience top priority when choosing members to oversee the commission’s operations so that it may successfully support state governments’ initiatives to advance the Niger Delta.

The meeting also underlined how urgently the government must step in to address the long-standing infrastructure deficiencies and environmental degradation in the oil-rich region.

PANDEF restated its position that the Federal Government must carry out more extensive measures for economic development and environmental rehabilitation outside of the commission.

PANDEF also called for the restoration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State Assembly, urging the President to step in and resolve the continuing political situation in Rivers State.

The group expressed disapproval of their suspension and called for quick action to bring the state back to stability.

The statement said: “The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) expresses sincere gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the historic signing of the South-South Development Commission Bill into law, announced on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, on behalf of the Niger Delta ethnic nationalities and peoples that comprise the South-South geopolitical zone.” We also applaud the National Assembly for finishing this piece of legislation on schedule.

“This one action has increased our people’s trust in the Federal Government’s commitment to promoting equitable regional development throughout the nation, especially to address the unique social, environmental, and developmental challenges that our region faces.”

“In order to ensure that this body plays its complementary role to the efforts of our Governors in delivering sustainable development to the region—which continues to contribute greatly to the sustenance of the Nigerian national economy for decades—PANDEF is hopeful that Mr. President will carefully select competent and tested hands with cognate skills and experience when establishing this new Commission.

“PANDEF restates that other unresolved issues will be given priority, particularly environmental cleanup from the detrimental effects of oil and gas extraction and the severe lack of basic infrastructure, which pose an existential threat to the South-South.

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“Lastly, PANDEF hopes that the President will kindly give urgent attention to returning the State to its normal democratic governance by promptly recalling the Governor, Deputy Governor, and State Assembly. This is in response to the repeated nationwide appeals and sincere concerns from almost every corner of the nation regarding the suspension of the Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Deputy Governor, and the State Assembly.

We express our gratitude to President Tinubu and the National Assembly once more for this important accomplishment. PANDEF anticipates further cooperation, advancement, and harmony in the days to come.