By Victor Lewis
The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), a vociferous organization which has been saddled with the advancement of the political and socio-economic development of the Niger Delta through advocacy, has, amongst other things, called on the Federal Government to immortalise the late former Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Solomon Arase.
The group which made this call as part of its Communique, in an enlarged National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Benin City, Edo State on the 4th of October 2025, described the former Inspector-General of Police as a patriotic statesman whose contributions to national unity and development deserve enduring recognition.
While thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Gov. Siminalaye Fubara for restoring democratic institution in River State, the meeting which was presided over by the National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, OON however appealed to the President to upgrade infrastructure in the Niger Delta region.
The group in its five paragraphs Communique which was signed by His Excellency Dr. Godknows Igali OON (National Chairman), Prof Alfred Ehigiegba (Edo state Chairman) and Chief Dr. Obiuwevbi Ominimini (National Publicity Secretary), stated as follows:
1. In view of the invaluable contributions of the late Rtd IGP, Dr Solomon Arase to National Unity and Development, the federal government of Nigeria is hereby called upon as a matter of importance to immortalise him including naming a major national monument in his honour
2. Pandef thanks His Excellency, President Bola Amed Tinubu GCFR, as well as Gov Siminalaye Fubara and all other leaders who played various roles in restoring Democratic institutions in Rivers State
3. Pandef express great worry over the collapse of the federal roads in Niger Delta, particularly the East West Road which remains largely uncompleted, mostly the Benin Warri section as well as the deplorable state of the Benin Auchi road and the Calabar Itu road among others
4. Pandef decries the unfortunate abandonment of the only railway line leading from Ujevwu, Delta state to Itakpe in Kogi state while similar project, such as the Abuja Kaduna Railway line, which broke down about the same time, had long been attended to and fixed as if Niger Delta does not matter in Nigeria.
5. As a matter of economic upliftment resulting into increase in the per capital income of the people of Niger Delta, the federal government is hereby called upon to urgently ensure the restoration of all the sea ports in South South Geopolitical zone situated in Calabar, Port Harcourt, Warri, Sapele, Burutu, and koko.
“The Niger Delta has given much to Nigeria; it deserves fairness, inclusion, and development in return,” the Forum declared.
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