ormer President Goodluck Jonathan has attributed the persistent underdevelopment of the oil-rich Niger Delta region to a combination of weak political will, poor leadership, and leaders’ prioritization of personal ambitions over collective regional growth. Despite the area’s immense natural resource wealth, which forms the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, Jonathan lamented that decades of neglected plans and rivalries have left the region trapped in cycles of poverty, environmental degradation, and economic stagnation.
Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Dr. Mike Oghiadomhe, at the public presentation of the book The Hidden Treasures: An Exposition on the Rich Resources and Opportunities of the Niger Delta by Deacon Chris Iyovwaye in Abuja on Friday, Jonathan highlighted several abandoned initiatives that could have transformed the region. “The Niger Delta has suffered because of personal interests,” he stated, recalling efforts to coordinate South-South governors and federal lawmakers for unified development. However, these were derailed by “competition for power and control,” including disputes over the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), where “everybody in the Niger Delta wanted to be the vice president to an unknown president.”
Jonathan emphasized that only a robust, apolitical development framework—capable of identifying investment opportunities in sectors like agriculture, fisheries, petrochemicals, technology, and environmental restoration—can unlock the region’s potential. He pointed out strategic advantages, such as the need for one of Nigeria’s largest seaports in the Delta, given its coastal position, and called for renewed cooperation among regional leaders to revive stalled projects.
The event, attended by notable figures including former Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Prince Adewole Adebayo and ex-Minister of Information Prof. Jerry Gana, underscored a broader consensus on the need for transparent governance and economic diversification. Adebayo described the Niger Delta as Nigeria’s “hidden treasure” and a “vast, mismanaged economic paradise,” insisting that “no indigene of the Niger Delta should be poor” given its resources. He advocated for individual initiative, community involvement, and government intervention to drive prosperity, potentially surpassing the economies of several developed nations.
Prof. Gana echoed these sentiments, blaming the woes on a failure to implement long-standing regional plans. Keynote speaker and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Mike Ozekhome (delivered via the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Ezekiel Abalagba), urged innovation, economic inclusion, environmental justice, and digital transformation as pathways forward.
The discussion comes amid ongoing national conversations about equitable resource distribution, with the Niger Delta contributing over 80% of Nigeria’s oil revenue yet facing chronic infrastructure deficits and pollution. Jonathan expressed optimism in the current South-South governors’ efforts to resurrect regional structures but warned that without sustained political commitment, the region risks remaining a paradox of wealth and want.
This address aligns with Jonathan’s recent reflections on his post-presidency role, including his involvement in the West African Elders Forum, where he focuses on democracy and governance rather than partisan politics. As Nigeria pushes toward a $1 trillion economy, stakeholders view the Niger Delta’s revitalization as pivotal to national stability.
