Ex-Lawmaker Farah Dagogo Demands Accountability for 13% Derivation Funds in Niger Delta....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Former federal lawmaker, Farah Dagogo, has expressed grave concerns over the management of the 13% derivation funds by the governors of the nine Niger Delta states, funds that are crucial for the development of oil-producing communities in the region. Dagogo, who represented the Bonny-Degema Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, voiced his worries in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Monday morning.

The statement, signed by his media aide, Ibrahim Lawal, was made available to PUNCH Online. As a governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections, Dagogo highlighted the alarming situation where trillions of naira, constitutionally allocated to the Niger Delta over the past 23 years through the 13% derivation, have not translated into tangible improvements for the oil-producing communities.

Dagogo noted that despite the Federal Government’s shortcomings in various areas, it has consistently increased the 13% derivation allocations to the Niger Delta states. In the first half of 2024 alone, over N600 billion was released to the region. “In January, N57.92 billion was released to oil-producing states. In February, it rose to N85.10 billion, and by March, the states received N166.24 billion,” he stated. The trend continued with N90.12 billion in April, N120.45 billion in May, and N106.50 billion in June.

Despite these substantial allocations, Dagogo criticized successive governors for their failure to uplift the communities, where people still live in “squalor, diseases, and the worst forms of poverty.” He lamented that instead of acting as custodians of these funds, governors perceive them as “free monies,” leading to widespread mismanagement and a lack of accountability.

“The 13% derivation is meant to assist oil-producing communities in addressing infrastructural decay and degradation. Yet, after more than two decades, what do we have to show for the vast sums of money allocated?” Dagogo asked. He pointed out that the governors often prioritize their personal interests over the development of these communities, leading to in-fighting among political elites trying to control these funds.

Dagogo called for an investigation into the living conditions in these oil-producing areas, which he described as appalling. “No electricity, no drinking water, no roads—there is a total lack of basic amenities,” he said. He questioned the governors’ indifference to the suffering of the communities they are supposed to serve, accusing them of enriching themselves rather than committing funds to meaningful development.

Dagogo demanded transparency and accountability in the management of the derivation funds, urging the governors to explain how these funds have been spent. He concluded with a note of scepticism, expressing doubt that any substantial explanation would be forthcoming, given the apparent apathy of the people towards their ongoing deprivation.