Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has called for a review of the 13 per cent derivation formula, saying the current percentage does not reflect the sufferings of the Niger Delta people and the damage done to the region’s environment.

He made the call at the weekend during an online conference themed, ‘The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the Aquatic Flora and Fauna of the Niger Delta,’ to mark this year’s World Environment Day.

The conference, which was hosted by the Bayelsa State Ministry of the Environment, had discussants simultaneously in Yenagoa, Benin and Abuja.

Diri, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said,

When other countries were recording reduction in oil activities, green house emission, pollution and gas flaring, the reverse was the case in Bayelsa State as it recorded death of lots of fishes during this coronavirus period in Akassa, Koluama, Agge as well as in other states in the region.

Diri said the people of the region had been shortchanged from the proceeds of their rich and vast resources not only by the Federal Government but also oil firms.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.