Late 1930 to 1958: Oil exploration started in the Niger Delta region in the late 1930s and oil was found in commercial quantity in 1956 at the village of Oloibiri. Since then oil production has increased significantly.

1958-1960 Sir Henry Willink’s Commission (1958) recommended that the Niger Delta region deserves special developmental attention by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Consequently, the Federal Government established the Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB) in 1960 to handle the developmental needs and challenges of the region

1960-1966 At independence in 1960, Nigeria had “true” federation of three regions. In 1963, the Mid-West region was carved out of the Western region, as the fourth region of the federation. The 1963 constitution was fashioned to reflect some of the tenets of true federalism. For instance, it included a provision for the payment of 50% derivation (of rents and royalties from mineral resources) to the regions from where such mineral resources were obtained

1966 Lt Gen Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi took over government, scrapped the "Federal System" and instituted unitary system of government. He however maintained the Regional government and the payment of 50% derivation.

1966: Major Isaac Adaka Boro declares Republic of Niger-Delta. The republic was short-lived.

1969: General Yakubu Gowon abolished the payment of 50% derivation.

1980 The Government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari established a committee, The Presidential Task Force. This committee was given 1.5% of derivation for intervention in the Niger Delta region

1984 General Muhammadu Buhari regime scrapped the policy of 1.5% intervention fund to the Niger Delta.

1990 Ogoni ethnic nationality through the Movement For The Survival of Ogoni People led by Saro Wiwa issued the “Ogoni Bill of Rights”. Item eleven of the bill specifically call for self-determination of Ogoni people "That the Ogoni people wish to manage their own affairs."


1992 Gen. Babangida established the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Commission (OMPADEC), allocating 3% of the oil revenue to the commission for intervention.

1995 Environmental activist Mr Ken Saro Wiwa was killed by Gen Sani Abacha.

1998 Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) issues Kaiama Declaration and pressed for Resource Control. According to the declaration “all land and natural resources within the Ijaw territory as belonging to the Ijaw communities… because they are the basis of our survival… peoples and communities right to ownership and control of our lives and resources".

*Subsequently, other ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta Issued their own bill of right calling for system restructuring and resource control*

1999 General Abdulsalam Abubakar introduced the payment of 13% derivation to mineral resources producing states and inserted it into Nigeria 1999 Constitution.

1999/2000 President Obasanjo sent a bill for the establishment of Niger Delta Development Commission to replace OMPADEC with a vision to
“to offer a lasting solution to the socio-economic difficulties of the Niger Delta Region” and a mission “to facilitate the rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful”.

2001/2002 President Olusegun Obasanjo introduced the Onshore/Offshore dichotomy that will see the FG pay 13% of only 60% of Oil revenues to the Oil Producing states. The South South Governors resisted, Obasanjo took them to the supreme Court. Supreme Court upheld the Offshore/Onshore dichotomy but declared the non inclusion of revenue from natural gas and the first line charge as illegal in its April 2002 judgement.

2003 South South Governors Donald Duke, Lucky Igbenedion, DSP Alamesiegha, Peter Odili, Obong Attah and Onanefe Ibori met in Benin and restated their commitment to Resource Control. According to them...
"The practice of true federalism and natural law in which the federating units express their rights to primarily control the natural resources within their borders and make agreed contribution towards maintenance of common services of sovereign nation state to which they belong. In the case of Nigeria, the federating units are the 36 states and the Sovereign nation is the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

2004 President Obasanjo abolished the Onshore/Offshore dichotomy to favor the 13% derivation of all oil revenue as enshrined in the constitution

2005 The Niger Delta delegation at the National Political Reform Conference (NPRC) demanded for 60% derivation, majority of non-ND delegates especially those from the North and Bola Ajibola vehemently opposed. The Niger Delta delegates then proposed 25% for "now" and 50% after 5years (That is to return to 1963 position ). Majority non-ND delegates still opposed it. They proposed 17% derivation which was later adopted. Thereby killing "Resource Control" bid. The Niger Delta delegates walked out of the conference in protest.

2005 MEND, Asari, Ateke Tom and others took to armed struggle. Alamesiagha the Chief proponent of Resource Control was impeached.

2007 Bayelsa state Governor Goodluck Jonathan was named as the running mate to PDP Presidential Candidate Umaru Yaradua, which they won.

2008 President Yaradua created the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Amnesty office for those involved in armed struggle. Petroleum Industry Bill was sent to the National Assembly by the President but it never made headway

2010/2012 The death of Yaradua saw Goodluck Jononathan ascend to power in 2010. He remodelled the PIB and sent back to the National Assembly for speedy passage.

2014 At the National Conference The Niger Delta delegates were mandated to demand for 100% resource control, but "50% tax and royalties to be paid to the FG". However, majority non ND delegates that are mostly from the North Rejected the demand but proposed 18% derivation and 5% to the North as compensation for BH. This the ND delegates rejected. The Conference ended without any position on Resource Control or Oil derivation.

2015 President Jonathan was defeated by opposition Muhammadu Buhari. ND see the defeat as a rejection of the Niger Delta people.


The Way Forward Post-May 29, 2015?
Enough of the goose chase, the people of the Niger Delta need permanent solution. Goodluck Jonathan failed in addressing the Niger Delta problem, however, the demand for True Federalism and Resource Control should be number one priority. There should also be strong demand for referendum to reflect the will of the Niger Delta in a New Constitution or amended 1999 constitution. NDDC, Min of Niger Delta, Amnesty Office etc should be scrapped completely for the enthronement of True Fiscal Federalism and at least 50% Resource Control like it was in 1963. This is the only way out if the Niger Delta is to enjoy its stay within the Nigeria state.




May God Bless The Niger Delta

cc: Dearpreye Truckpusher Talktimi Stebell Ijawboy Altwireless Mogidi

Referendum all the way. This sh1t hole of a country suffocates.

Now Gej has been defeated, their eyes don open

You should have written this during GEJ administration, at least he grew up in that region and have first hand information of the situation. Yet failed to institute a permanent solution to their struggle or is there more to this than we are been told? 18% derivation is no joke if put to good use.

All the money that has been allocated to ND area since 1966 be it 1% or 18% is enough to develop that ND. The people of Niger Delta should start holding their own people accountable, not only the government. I don't believe 100% resources control will change the situation.

Will the parasitic Yorubas and Hausa let us go?

Na we tell God not to bless their dry land with oil?

Will the parasitic Yorubas and Hausa let us go?

Na we tell God not to bless their dry land with oil?

Iykopee:
Referendum all the way. This sh1t hole of a country suffocates.

That is the way forward. For so many years we have been comfortable with crumbs rather that seek permanent solution.

Iykopee:
Referendum all the way. This sh1t hole of a country suffocates.

Why call for a Referendum?
Can Niger Delta People control themselves?

barcanista:
That is the way forward. For so many years we have been comfortable with crumbs rather that seek permanent solution.

Lets assume, the Niger Delta People are granted sovereignty, will the Oil ''thieving'' by their elites stop?

Barcanista has gone int regional politics, I'm disappointed with this, @ barca please stand up and fight to unshackle Nigerians from every tribe the new bondage that they will be falling into.
Stop whipping up regional sentiments aNd fight as a Nigerian

Lemon12:
Will the parasitic Yorubas and Hausa let us go?

Na we tell God not to bless their dry land with oil?

No, they won't, 'cos if they do, they might just die of Starvation.

The Nigerian state has rejected all avenue of peace to settle the environmental issues that has plagued the Niger Delta people and her environment even as billions of dollars has been taken away from the land and the people left poorer and an environmental degradation that is unprecedented in the history of any land due to oil exploration and exploitation is being witnessed on daily basis .However ,any form of armed struggle should be discouraged as criminals have always hijacked such movement to enrich themselves and abandon the very people they claimed to be fighting on their behalf - We hereby demand for fiscal federalism or 100% resource control .Anything short of this, is another call for anarchy and chaos for the Nigerian economy.

Barcanista, I strongly disagree on that point that Jonathan failed to settle the Niger Delta issue - In a unitary system of Governance like the one we have right now that was built on a false structure ,there was nothing or little Jonathan could have done to make any changes until those that has allocated more positions to themselves in the lower house and Senate decides to do what is right before it is too late.

I personally said that Jonathan's emergence as a President was nothing but a Greek gift and that was proved as some elements promised to make the country ungovernable him and carried out their threat to the later while the rest used the social media to destroy his administration.Jonathan is a child of circumstances .

Our position is very simple and clear - And it is in the best interest of all stakeholders in the oppressive Nigerian state to behave.We can't guarantee the approach that would be used by our generations tomorrow.

All this is because of losing 2015 election.

Niger Deltans are freedom fighters.
#OneMoreRiver2cross.

Typing.


Changed my mind. Abumikey pointed out where I was heading too

AbuMikey:


Lets assume, the Niger Delta People are granted sovereignty, will the Oil ''thieving'' by their elites stop?

Exactly what I've been saying - The federal Government can make policies that would ensure that the wealth goes directly to the people and not creating some bogus outfit like NDDC just to settle some thieving elites.

Between, aren't your own elites thieving too?

ECOTERRORS:
Barcanista has gone int regional politics, I'm disappointed with this, @ barca please stand up and fight to unshackle Nigerians from every tribe the new bondage that they will be falling into.
Stop whipping up regional sentiments aNd fight as a Nigerian

Politics is local my friend .

You can't be speaking of an oppressive Nigerian state when your land is being plundered and pillaged with nothing to show for it.

Truth234:
You should have written this during GEJ administration, at least he grew up in that region and have first hand information of the situation. Yet failed to institute a permanent solution to their struggle or is there more to this than we are been told? 18% derivation is no joke if put to good use.

All the money that has been allocated to ND area since 1966 be it 1% or 18% is enough to develop that ND. The people of Niger Delta should start holding their own people accountable, not only the government. I don't believe 100% resources control will change the situation.

What nonsense is this? Do you think we are begging anybody? You better cease from insulting the sensibilities of our people.

In God we trust....

AbuMikey:


Lets assume, the Niger Delta People are granted sovereignty, will the Oil ''thieving'' by their elites stop?

that is inconsequential, what ever we do to our resources don't concern anybody.

Truckpusher:
Politics is local my friend .

You can't be speaking of an oppressive Nigerian state when your land is being plundered and pillaged with nothing to show for it.

d op has been a firm beliver of Nigeria and always calls for true federalism.

Its like the spirit of Buhari is now pursuing Bacarnista in his sleep these days. Buhari this, Buhari that , why don't you just wait till this man assume office before you start wasting your energy in pulling him down?

dcaliph:
that is inconsequential, what ever we do to our resources don't concern anybody.

The earlier you accept the fact that the resources in question belong to Nigeria the better for you.

Truckpusher:

Between, aren't your own elites thieving too?

Good question.

I hope he will answer.

Alphaoscar:
Its like the spirit of Buhari is now pursuing Bacarnista in his sleep these days. Buhari this, Buhari that , why don't you just wait till this man assume office before you start wasting your energy in pulling him down?

As usual, leaving the message to attack the messenger. Did he say anytin concerning buhari in the post?

Truckpusher:
The Nigerian state has rejected all avenue of peace to settle the environmental issues that has plagued the Niger Delta people and her environment even as billions of dollars has been taken away from the land and the people left poorer and an environmental degradation that is unprecedented in the history of any land due to oil exploration and exploitation is being witnessed on daily basis .However ,any form of armed struggle should be discouraged as criminals have always hijacked such movement to enrich themselves and abandon the very people they claimed to be fighting on their behalf - We hereby demand for fiscal federalism or 100% resource control .Anything short of this, is another call for anarchy and chaos for the Nigerian economy.

Barcanista, I strongly disagree on that point that Jonathan failed to settle the Niger Delta issue - In a unitary system of Governance like the one we have right now that was built on a false structure ,there was nothing or little Jonathan could have done to make any changes until those that has allocated more positions to themselves in the lower house and Senate decides to do what is right before it is too late.

I personally said that Jonathan's emergence as a President was nothing but a Greek gift and that was proved as some elements promised to make the country ungovernable him and carried out their threat to the later while the rest used the social media to destroy his administration.Jonathan is a child of circumstances .

Our position is very simple and clear - And it is in the best interest of all stakeholders in the oppressive Nigerian state to behave.We can't guarantee the approach that would be used by our generations tomorrow.

I see to your point my bros, but my argument is that a Jonathan that grew up in Niger Delta and has been in the system all through the period that his then Boss Alams was fighting for system restructuring should have summon the courage to call for these restructuring at the start of his administration in 2011. Even when he instituted the Confab of 2014, he didn't provide a legal framework but chose to subject the report to the NASS rather than the people. You and I knw that we can't get anything from the NASS. Jonathan may have tried but his effort wasn't enough.

This is the time to seriously make our demands. We've gone past peanuts and crumbs

AbuMikey:


Lets assume, the Niger Delta People are granted sovereignty, will the Oil ''thieving'' by their elites stop?

That should be NONE of your business. That a person might mismanage his income isn't enough ground to deny them their income!

It's none of your business!

Truth234:
You should have written this during GEJ administration, at least he grew up in that region and have first hand information of the situation. Yet failed to institute a permanent solution to their struggle or is there more to this than we are been told? 18% derivation is no joke if put to good use.
All the money that has been allocated to ND area since 1966 be it 1% or 18% is enough to develop that ND. The people of Niger Delta should start holding their own people accountable, not only the government. I don't believe 100% resources control will change the situation.

barcanista:
I see to your point my bros, but my argument is that a Jonathan that grew up in Niger Delta and has been in the system all through the period that his then Boss Alams was fighting for system restructuring should have summon the courage to call for these restructuring at the start of his administration in 2011. Even when he instituted the Confab of 2014, he didn't provide a legal framework but chose to subject the report to the NASS rather than the people. You and I knw that we can't get anything from the NASS. Jonathan may have tried but his effort wasn't enough.

This is the time to seriously make our demands. We've gone past peanuts and crumbs

What is the difference?

AbuMikey:


Why call for a Referendum?
Can Niger Delta People control themselves?

Controlling themselves shudn't be ur headache. Can't u stay, live and survive without these people?

Iykopee:



As usual, leaving the message to attack the messenger. Did he say anytin concerning buhari in the post?

I think you need to visit hospital for the removal of that cataract. He did not only mentioned Buhari but also highlighted his supposed part in different colour for people like you to take note. Anyway, a blind man will always be a blind man even if you give him halogen lamp to read a common one page document.