Nigeria: Oil Cash for Niger-Delta People

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By Tayo Adelaja

Published: October 20, 2009

Umar Yar"Adua, Nigeria's President

 

 

Nigeria: Oil Cash for Niger-Delta People

By Tayo Adelaja/Lagos

Nigeria plans to give 10 per cent of its oil revenues directly to communities in the oil-rich Niger Delta. Presidential adviser Emmanuel Egbogah unveiled the plan in an interview with the British newspaper, the Financial Times. The plan is a response to longstanding demands from communities in the Niger Delta that have been calling for a share in the ownership of the oil, which generates 80 per cent of government revenue. In the last three years attacks on oil and gas installations by armed rebels have cut Nigerian oil production by around 40 per cent. Niger Delta communities could receive more than 338 million US dollars in the first year, according to the Financial Times. The money would be delivered through a trust-style mechanism, and could be used individually or pooled for social projects. By giving money directly to the people the government hopes to cut out corruption by local officials.

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