Imo: Oil Communities not enjoying dividends of democracy

Austin Okoro DDM NEWS

The Hon. Commissioner for Niger Delta Affairs and Intelligence in Imo state, Prince Henry Okafor has stated that oil communities in Imo state have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy that comes from oil exploration.

Okafor stated this when he received a delegation from the Niger Delta Journalists Association on Tuesday 4th March 2025 in his office at Owerri.

The Commissioner who expressed happiness over the Courtesy visit said a lot of communities in the Niger Delta region of Imo state have not received the dividends of democracy from oil exploration in their land.

* A lot of communities have not received the dividends of democracy we are talking about and they need their voices to be heard and there are no better platforms than a Media Group to market their voices”, he hinted.

He said the primary interest of Niger Delta Journalists Association is to let the voices of the highly marginalized people of the Niger Delta areas of the state to be heard locally and internationally.

The Commissioner added that if Niger Delta Journalists Association is at the forefront of agitating for the good of the Niger Delta people, the government and Oil Companies would come to them .

He urged the Journalists to always report matters concerning the oil bearing communities of OhajiEgbema and Oguta so that government and oil companies will come to their aid.

The Prince of the Oil Kingdom urged the Media Practitioners to put pressure on the government to implement in full the 13% Oil derivatives formula as to improve the lives of the people in oil areas.

He said: ” The aim of the Media group is to publicize the activities of the oil companies and that of the government.

To put pressure on the government as regards its failures in the oil producing areas and to pressurize the government to appropriately use the 13% oil derivatives formula well and that of Niger Delta Development Commission’s allocations.”

Prince Okafor enjoins the Media group to also promote the good works of the sons and daughters of the Niger Delta land who are doing well.

He advised them to be a vehicle that conveys the messages, complaints, and request of the indigenes of the hydrocarbons in all matters concerning them.

He calls on the traditional rulers, politicians, and other stakeholders in Niger Delta areas to unite together for the good of the Niger Delta land.

The Niger Delta Commissioner also urged the members of the Niger Delta Journalists Association to unite together adding that it’s only when they are together that the government and the oil companies will respect them.

” I advise you to look for a way and bring more people who are outside into the group, avoid factions, make the organization bigger so that it will attract attention “, he stated.

He cautioned against fractionalization of the group as any group divided among itself will fall.

Earlier in his address, the President of the Niger Delta Journalists Association, Comrade Austin Okoro expressed his appreciation to the Commissioner for his magnanity and love for the association.

Comrade Okoro promised him that he would unite the group for the benefit of the Niger Delta people and assured  him of continuous cooperation and unity of purpose.

Dignitaries present at the event were the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Niger Delta Ministry Dr Ethel Ojiaku, the Public Relations Officer, Mrs Ugonma and members of the Niger Delta Journalists Association.