Wealth in Niger Delta region 18 times more than USA, says Adebayo

...As Jerry Gana laments NDDC’s poor performance

By Chris Ochayi

The 2023 presidential candidate under the platform of Social Democratic Party, SDP, Prince Adewole Adebayo has said the wealth in Niger Delta region is 18 times more than everything in the United States of America.

Adebayo who disclosed this while speaking at the unveiling of a book, “The Hidden Treasures: an exposition on the rich resources and opportunities of the Niger Delta” in Abuja, said the was endowed with vast reserves of oil, gas, and other natural resources.

Prince Adebayo described the Niger Delta as a “hidden treasure” teeming with human and natural resources, adding that, “It is impossible for anyone from the region to be poor.”

Adebayo, who hails from a family with 100 years of experience in making fortunes from the Niger Delta, said the region’s people are extremely brilliant, hospitable, and kind, forming the glue that can build a strong country.

Speaking further, the international Lawyer and business mogul tasked Nigerians to take themselves seriously and recognize the region’s potential, saying the country’s crisis is not due to a lack of resources, but rather a lack of vision and leadership .

According to him, “The wealth of Niger Delta is 18 times all the productivity of America since 1776 to date,”

He added “Everything they have achieved in the last 250,000 years is 1 over 18 of what is immediately available in Niger Delta.”

Adebayo identified three ways to unlock the Niger Delta’s hidden treasures: individually, communally, and governmentally. He emphasized the need for Nigerians to move away from a culture of appropriating surface wealth and instead focus on harnessing the region’s resources for the benefit of all.

In his remarks, the former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Professor Jerry Gana took a swipe at the poor performance of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Prof. Gana while expressing disappointment with the NDDC’s performance, said the agency has not lived up to its mandate of transforming the region into a beautiful and prosperous area.

Gana recalled presenting a paper at a conference where he proposed the creation of the NDDC, but lamented that the commission has focused on building primary schools and other basic infrastructure instead of transforming the region’s infrastructure.

He said, “I said no, no, no, this vision was to transform the Niger Delta into one of the most beautiful places in the Federal Republic of Nigeria with excellent infrastructure, and the money to do so was put together to come directly.”

He urged the leadership of the NDDC to do more, saying the region has the potential to be a prosperous and beautiful place.

Gana praised the people of the Niger Delta for their hospitality and generosity, saying they are the glue that holds the country together.

Speaking in his closing remarks the publisher of “Hiden Treasure” and founder, Deacon Chris Iyovwaye Foundation (DCI) said that the book is a wake up call for the people to tap into the hidden treasures within the Niger Delta and the country at large to enhance the economic development.

He stressed on the diversity of human and economic resources provided by God in every part of the country but left untapped, hence the reason for the underdevelopment, insecurity and unemployment.

“If we can look beyond oil and Hannes other sectors like agriculture, tourism, human capacity development, banking and others, Nigeria will be better than any part of the world” He stated

He thanked the guests and commended them for their individual contributions to the development of the country.

The book presentation highlighted the Niger Delta’s rich history, from the Royal Niger Company to the discovery of hydrocarbons in Oloibiri, and the need for Nigerians to recognize the region’s contributions to the country’s development.