A Field Research on the Impact of the 13% Derivation Fund in the Niger Delta Region: Ibeno as a Case Study.
On the 22nd of January 2019, a team which comprised of the Kebetkache Foundation, Policy Alert and two fellows from the Emerging Voices Harmattan Cohort, 2018 fellowship embarked on a field research to Ibeno Local Government Area, one of the major oil-producing communities in Akwa Ibom State. The aim of the visit was to carry out a finding on the Impact of the 13% derivation fund. The outline of the field trip also featured a Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with key members of the community.
Ibeno is a Local government Area in Akwa Ibom State, located in the South East of Nigeria. It is one of the largest fishing settlement and one of the major oil producing land. Ibeno has different communities including Nwokpom Opolom which the research team used as a case study.
On arriving the community, the team met with the community keepers who led the way. A boat was boarded from Okorotip. It was a 1hour journey across to Nwokpom opolom .
Nwokpom Opolom is a small community located in a somewhat islandy environment, surrounded by the mangrove forest. The main occupation of the Opoloms is fishing. The Men go into the river to bring the fishes while women wait by the shore to buy from them for either commercial purposes or family consumption. The housing is mainly thatched except the only school in the community, the teachers’ lodge, the clinic and the church which are made from concrete. From the questionnaires administered, it was deduce that the 13% derivation fund have in no way impacted into the lives of the people in the community. The evidence was seen in the lack of basic infrastructural and social amenities such as; Pipe borne water, Good medical care, Electricity etc, even when they are the ones producing the oil which contributes 80% of the country’s revenue.
They bemoaned over the abandonment of the community by the government. In fact, the quantum of neglects and deprivation in this community is actually appalling to say the least.
“They say our land dey produce oil for our country, dem dey sell am dey give us back 13%, but we no dey see positive change for this our community. Where de money dey go? Gas flaring dey happen for here causing plenty damage, our environment and rivers dey polluted too because of this but every year people at the top hijack our share of the oil money we produce. Wetin we go do” One of the settlers lamented.
Social Amenities/ Infrastructure
· They Lack good and hygienic source of water. Their only source is a Well they drink from aside sachet water which they have to cross the river to purchase in the nearest community.
· The only health center lie in ruins, as women give birth in their houses under the traditional midwifery.
· They use open defecation system and dispose them into the river which contribute to the contamination of the water body.
· There is only one school in the community and it is a primary school held just three times a week because of the unavailability of teachers. And Ibeno as a whole has only one government secondary school with over 5,000 students and 28 teachers.
The field Research concluded with a Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with some of the key members of the Ibeno community including the youth leaders, teachers, women leaders and a few other youths.
The issue of the 13% derivation was discussed extensively. And below were their opinions for reasons behind the poor condition of the community even when they have 13% of their oil funds sent to them every month.
· There is no local commission responsible for the well utilization of the 13% derivation fund sent to them.
· Personal interest over that of the community have been the reason behind the underdevelopment of the oil-producing communities.
· Ibeno has no one representing them in the State’s Executive council.
After extensively deliberating on the possible reasons for the underdevelopment of the community, there was further discussion on what they feel should be done and they put out two major recommendations which are;
· The 13% derivation fund should be sent directly to the oil-producing communities not the state, as the third tier is closer to the people and understand their needs.
· An agency should be set up in the local level to manage the funds.
The field research ended with a positive outcome from the Focused Group Discussion, while they hope the government will dispatch competent agencies to look into the 13% derivation funds meant for the development of the oil-producing communities.
“ we should not just be perceived as wealthy people, we have to be seen as a wealthy community because indeed this land is blessed. We have been cheated for so long, that has to stop.”
One of them reiterated.
