By George Onah
Port Harcourt – The Niger Delta Catholic Bishop’s Forum has decried the poor management of the revenue accruing from oil and gas in the region explaining that the money from the resources has not impacted on the economic and human development of the people.

“We have reason to believe that the management of our oil and gas revenue has not brought to our people the economic and human development that it promised fifty years ago.

We are, therefore, suing for a future where all of our people would be proud beneficiaries of an industry of such vast potential. However, this has often left them incapable of neither living their lives to the full nor being participants in the development of the region”.

A statement in Port Harcourt signed by Archbishop Joseph Ukpo and Rev. Fr. Edward Obi, chairman and secretary general respectively said the gathering aimed at heeding the cries of all segments of the population.

The clergymen said they were “concerned that the majority of the Niger Delta people, especially those who live in the rural communities still suffer poverty, illiteracy and disease

We lament the dearth of adequate infrastructure to facilitate human and economic development. Our concerns are even more urgent because we know that our region is unique in its endowment in oil and gas”.

The forum reasoned that “while there is relative peace and tranquillity at present we should not be led to think that this is a sustainable peace if systematic injustices are not properly addressed. The amnesty process is a good start but we still face the challenge of genuine reconciliation between ex-militants, the communities and aggrieved individuals.

The challenge of insecurity and managing rising expectations of the people must also be properly addressed.  The bishops said “gas flaring, oil spills and the attendant consequences continue to constitute the daily realities of our people’s lives.

We wish to recognise the efforts of the government in improving peace and stability through the amnesty programme. We appreciate the efforts of some state governments in the region in delivering development through improved education, health care and infrastructural facilities”.