By Abdullahi Abdulrahman, Yenagoa

The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has launched a scathing critique of the Nigerian government, accusing the federal authorities of systematically draining the resources of the Ijaw people while leaving the region in a state of persistent underdevelopment.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with our correspondent in Yenagoa, the Chairman of MOSIEND Central Zone, Comrade Tari Patrick Zidougha, declared that the “lifewire” of the Nigerian state — the oil resources of the Niger Delta — is being used to sustain the country while host communities continue to grapple with environmental degradation, poverty, and a lack of basic infrastructure.

Zidougha highlighted what he described as a glaring double standard in Nigeria’s mineral resource management.

He contrasted the handling of gold resources in Northern states such as Zamfara with the federal control of crude oil in the Niger Delta.

“Why would the Northerner keep his gold and the profits that come from it, but the oil we have here is taken by the government and declared as belonging to Nigeria?” Zidougha queried.

“Resource control is the only way forward. Until every region manages what it contributes and remits an agreed portion to the centre, there will be no peace of mind.”

The MOSIEND Central Zone leader also lamented what he described as the “death” of key regional economic assets, including the Port Harcourt and Warri seaports as well as the Eleme Petrochemical Plant.

He alleged that the Federal Government has deliberately allowed Niger Delta ports to remain inactive in order to protect the economic dominance of the Lagos ports.

“Lagos is already overwhelmed with congestion and accidents. Why not develop and functionalize seaports in the Niger Delta to ease the pressure? The answer is simple — they do not want the kind of development a functional seaport would bring to our region,” Zidougha said.

He further decried the lack of Ijaw ownership in the oil industry, noting that while communities suffer the devastating effects of oil spills, the oil assets are controlled by individuals far removed from the pollution.

“In communities like Olokpo-boro, people have to travel far into the sea before they can find clean water to drink. Yet the oil wells are owned by people who do not even live here,” he lamented.

Despite what he described as federal neglect, Zidougha said MOSIEND has continued to intervene through several community-driven programmes funded largely through internal efforts and support from well-meaning individuals.

He listed some recent initiatives undertaken by the organisation in the Central Zone to include the distribution and registration of JAMB forms for Ijaw students, skills acquisition programmes in tailoring, computer training and civil engineering, medical outreach programmes for rural mothers, and sensitisation campaigns against drug trafficking and illegal oil bunkering.

The group has also been sponsoring educational awareness programmes for both boys and girls on sex education, personal safety and protection from abuse.

Zidougha warned that the current stipend-driven peace framework, particularly the Presidential Amnesty Programme, is gradually losing effectiveness due to corruption and the lack of sustainable reintegration for former agitators.

While acknowledging the efforts of the current Amnesty Programme Administrator, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, to reform the scheme, he noted that the programme is still grappling with the consequences of past administrative failures.

Looking ahead, the MOSIEND Central Zone chairman outlined what he described as the organisation’s “Three Arrows” development agenda — Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Rebuilding — aimed at restoring the lost economic and social strength of the Ijaw nation.

“Our mothers are being attacked and robbed by sea pirates on the waterways, yet agencies such as NIMASA and NIWA appear absent,” Zidougha said.

“We will continue to agitate peacefully and intellectually. We are asking God for patience, but a day will come when the poor will begin to demand accountability from the rich. We will not stop until we control what rightfully belongs to us.”