…calls on President Tinubu to revamp the Sea Ports in Niger Delta
Being text of PANDEF press conference
The Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF), has called for the revisiting of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as it is unfavorable to the Niger Delta Region.
At a press conference in Abuja on December 5, 2025, a statement signed by Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini, PANDEF National Spokesman & National Publicity Secretary said that section 257 of the PIA provides that when there is vandalization of oil facilities, the money shall be deducted from Host community development fund.
The statement also noted that the PIA Provides in section 236 that when the Oil Exploration companies (SETLORS) fail to comply with the PIA or delay to implement the PIA provision(s), the SETLOR is made to pay 2,500 USD to the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on daily basis. This the statement noted should have been paid to the host communities who suffer the noncompliance by the SETLORS instead of NUPRC that is charged by the PIA to oversight the SETLORS.
“The PIA needs to be revisited. It does not favour Niger Delta. Section 257 provides that when there is vanderlization of oil facilities, the money shall be deducted from Host community development fund but the PIA Provides in section 236 that when the Oil Exploration companies (SETLORS) fail to comply with the PIA or delay to implement the PIA provieion(s), the Setlor is made to pay 2,500 USD to the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory commission (NUPRC) on daily basis. Such money should have been paid to the host communities who suffer the noncompliance by the setlors instead of NUPRC that is charged by the PIA to oversight the SETLORS.
The statement further said that Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC is presently condoning the SELTORS’ noncompliance because it serves as a source of revenue generation to it. The statement noted that since the inception of the PIA to date, so many Host Communities’ Board of Trustees (BOTs) and Management Committees (MCs) have not received the distribution Matrix from the SELTORS, which shall enable the BOTs and MCs to award development projects to the oil bearing communities or Host Communities.
“NUPRC is now condoning the setlors’ noncompliabce because it serves as a source of revenue generation to NUPRC. Since the Inception of the PIA to date, so many Host Communities board of Trustees (BOTs) and Management Committees (MCs) have not received the distribution martix from the SELTORS, which shall enable the BOTs and MCs to award development projects to the oil bearing communities or Host Communities.
“The money meant for such projects is constantly being affected by inflation. PANDEL calls on the Federal Ministry of Petroleum resurces (oil), beeing the supervistry body to NUPRC to live up to her responsibility and call Engr Komolafe, the CEO of NUPRC, to order.
In conclusion, PANDEF called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revamp the Sea Ports in the Niger Delta located Warri, Sapele, Calabar, Onne, Kiki, etc now that the 2026 Budget is being prepared in order to boost economic activities of the people of Niger Delta Region.
“PANDEF is also making a clarion call on president Tinubu for revamping the Sea Ports in Niger Delta now that the budget for the year 2026 is being prepared. It is a sin to concentrate all landing containers in Lagos Seaport, leaving all ports in Niger Delta such as Warri Port, Sapele Port, Koko Port, Burutu Port, Onne Port in Port Harcourt and Calabar Port to waste and rot away.
“We are calling on President Tinubu to show the difference and do the needful to Revive all these ports. Revamping all these ports shall step up the economic activities of the people of Niger Delta Region, the region that feeds Nigeria with oil and gas but benefits nothing in return.
