By Abiola Olawale
A coalition of militants under the umbrella of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), a socio-political group has called on Niger Delta governors to give account on an estimated N50trn and N55trn received as 13% derivation funds by states in region from 2018 till date.
According to the coalition, financial records in their possession revealed that a whooping N44.68trn, proceeds of 13 per cent derivation fund has been allocated to the oil producing states by the Federal Government between the period of 1999 to 2018.
The coalition accused the South-South governors of mismanaging the derivation funds, agitating that the funds should be diverted to develop the Niger Delta region.
The coalition, therefore, urged that President Muhammadu Buhari to address the situation, adding that the Federal Government should stop paying the 13% derivation funds to the governors of the region.
This is contained in an electronic mail, released on Thursday by Major General Johnmark Ezon-Ebi, Commanding Officer, RNDA.
The mail reads: “The Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), coalition of militant groups that is agitating for the overall development of the Niger Delta region, most especially for the betterment of the oil and gas producing communities in the creeks, has challenged governors of the Niger Delta to give proper account of over N55 trillion they have collected so far from the Federation Account on 13 per cent derivation from 1999 to 2021.
“The amount is without the IGRs and monthly allocations from the Federation Account. From 1999 to 2018, according to financial records obtained by us, the Niger Delta oil-producing states have received over N44.68 trillion and from 2018 to 2021 they have collected over N50 trillion. Despite that South-south oil producing state governors are of the opposition party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has never denied them of the 13 per cent derivation funds monthly. President Buhari also has never denied them even the Paris Club bailout funds. They were given to them in billions of naira for over two consecutive times and yet these South-south six oil producing states’ debt profile is huge and running into over N1.25 trillion.”
