The decision of President Bola Tinubu to initiate the Coastal Highway project from Lagos rather than Calabar has raised eyebrows among Nigerians.
Many speculate that the project may not reach Calabar and is merely a strategy to concentrate on Lagos.
Recalled that the special assistant on security matters to the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, Hon. Henry Nwazuruahu Shield, has questioned Tinubu’s decision to start the Coastal Highway project from the Lagos axis instead of the Calabar axis.
In contrast, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has declared that it’s time to take the “Ijaw struggle” to an international level, moving beyond mere words. This statement was made by the INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, in a communiqué following the 2024 Ijaw National Day celebration in Bayelsa.
Prof. Okaba expressed that the contentious issues that sparked disputes between the late Maj. Adaka Boro and the federal government over the mismanagement of Nigeria’s oil economy persist. He pointed out that the situation has deteriorated, leading to increased impunity.
He highlighted that the Ijaw environment continues to suffer from the environmental degradation caused by petroleum exploitation, with no adequate remediation or compensation for the severely damaged ecosystem. He stated, “Ijaw communities are still grappling with the negative impacts of uncontrolled oil spills, constant flooding, and ocean encroachment.”
The INC president emphasized that the Ijaw’s quest for self-determination is rooted in their demand for resource and environmental justice. He said, “All Ijaw people are seeking a fair and just reward for our resources and sacrifices.”
The INC has outlined several conditions for its ongoing commitment to the Nigerian project. These include the restoration of true federalism, devolution of power, repeal of discriminatory environmental and resource-related laws, and the restoration of Ijaw territory as a non-balkanized administrative and politically generated unit. This is aimed at reassuring and promoting Ijaw developmental pursuits by creating at least two additional states, more local government areas, and wards for the Ijaws.
Prof. Okaba also called for the relocation of the administrative headquarters of oil companies and their subsidiaries to their operational bases in Ijaw territory and the Niger Delta. He further demanded proper funding and management of Interventionist Agencies such as the Presidential Amnesty Programme and the Niger Delta Development Commission.
He concluded, “We call for the promotion of modular refineries owned by our people. We also want a balance in appointments at the federal levels and equitable distribution of critical infrastructure, reflecting the true principles of federal character.”
The theme of the 2024 Ijaw National Day, “Re-invigorating our resolve to take the Ijaw struggle for self-determination beyond rhetoric,” was derived against this backdrop.
