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UYO – When the oil wells of the Niger Delta finally dry up or global demand fades, what will become of the millions whose livelihoods depend on the region’s black gold?
This question was repeatedly raised during Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) gathering in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday as they painted a stark picture of an uncertain future for Nigeria’s oil-rich states.
The dialogue, convened by Policy Alert, BudgIT Foundation, and the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), was a wake-up call for the nine oil-producing states to rethink their economic reliance on fossil fuels.
For communities already grappling with environmental degradation and low human development indices, the looming energy transition is not just an economic challenge—it’s a fight for survival.
Tengi George-Ikoli, a senior officer with NRGI, warned that the Niger Delta faces dire fiscal risks as the world steadily shifts to renewable energy. “As the global economy moves away from fossil fuels, Niger Delta states, which depend heavily on oil revenues, are at the brink of economic uncertainty,” she said.
George-Ikoli urged regional governments to collaborate on a comprehensive policy framework to mitigate the social, environmental, and economic impacts of this shift.
In her words “The federal and sub-national governments must work together to ensure that no oil-producing state, community, woman, or youth is left behind in this transition.”
Edidiong Dickson, Program Lead for Energy, Extractives, and Climate Justice at Policy Alert, echoed this urgency, questioning the fate of Niger Delta states when their primary source of revenue-oil—becomes obsolete.
He emphasized the need for proactive measures, including effective debt management, controlled expenditures, and robust domestic revenue generation.
“Borrowing must be strategic and focused on long-term investments in critical sectors like health, education, and infrastructure,” Dickson said
He lamented the region’s poor life expectancy of just 41 years, attributing it to environmental degradation and underinvestment in social services.
Also speaking, Iniobong Usen of BudgIT Foundation challenged Akwa Ibom State to lead by example. He called for innovative policies that could serve as a template for other oil-producing states.
“When the world no longer desires the oil produced by Akwa Ibom, how will the state fund its projects, provide healthcare, and build infrastructure?” he asked.
