Niger Delta Activist Slams Nigeria’s Over-Reliance on Crude Oil

By Rhoda Godwin

Yenagoa, Bayelsa State:  A leading Niger Delta activist and Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Patterson Ogon, has delivered a scathing critique of Nigeria’s economic structure, calling out the nation’s over-dependence on crude oil as a major impediment to sustainable growth.

Speaking at the 13th edition of the annual lecture hosted by the Federated Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Dr. Ogon argued that Nigeria’s reliance on oil has led to the neglect of other crucial sectors, particularly agriculture, which once formed the backbone of the nation’s economy.

“Agriculture accounted for 72% of Nigeria’s total national output in 1950,” Dr. Ogon stressed, highlighting the dramatic shift in the country’s economic focus since the discovery of oil.

He cautioned that this single-minded focus on oil has left Nigeria vulnerable to the volatility of global oil prices and has hindered the development of a diversified and resilient economy.

Dr. Ogon urged the Nigerian government to prioritise a move away from oil, calling for increased investment in agriculture and manufacturing to foster a more sustainable future.

He underscored the need for a proactive approach to address the challenges posed by Nigeria’s reliance on a single commodity.

Echoing Dr. Ogon’s concerns, Morris Alagoa, an environmentalist and Deputy Director of the Environmental Defenders Network, spoke about the detrimental impact of Nigeria’s economic policies on the environment.

He highlighted the rampant logging and mining activities taking place in the Niger Delta, warning of a future where resources like timber will become scarce.

The event, themed “Niger Delta Region and Nigeria’s Economic Diversification: Challenges and Prospects,” brought together journalists, activists, and stakeholders to discuss the critical role of the Niger Delta in Nigeria’s economic future.

The Federated Correspondents’ Chapel Chairman, Tife Owolabi, emphasised the importance of responsible journalism in bridging the gap between policymakers, stakeholders, and the public, highlighting the need for informed dialogue on critical issues like economic diversification.

Dr. Ogon’s call to action, coupled with the concerns expressed by other speakers, underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to shift towards a more diversified and sustainable economic model.

The Niger Delta, with its vast potential and inherent challenges, will undoubtedly play a central role in this transformation.