Social Action Champions Regional Collaboration for Inclusive Development and Accountability in the Niger Delta

Port Harcourt, Nigeria – June 2025

In an effort to ignite a renewed push for accountability and inclusive development in the Niger Delta, Social Action hosted a strategic presentation titled “Sustaining Collaboration for Inclusive Development and Public Accountability”, delivered by Assoc. Prof. E. O. Frank of the University of Uyo. The session addressed deep-rooted structural and governance failures that have hindered equitable progress in the oil-rich region.

Prof. Frank’s presentation laid bare the socio-political and economic neglect that has plagued the South-South zone for decades, despite its vast contributions to national wealth through oil and gas resources. He argued that the absence of collaborative development platforms—unlike the Odu’a Investment Company in the South-West and the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation (NNDC)—has left the Niger Delta without a unified mechanism to pursue growth, transparency, or citizen-centered governance.

“Since Nigeria became the poverty capital of the world, the Niger Delta poverty was upgraded to multidimensional poverty,” he noted, painting a bleak picture of a region burdened with environmental degradation, corruption, and unfulfilled promises.

The presentation emphasized the failure of public accountability systems across the Niger Delta states. Delayed and ineffective auditor general reports, compromised legislative oversight, and restricted access to public documents were highlighted as key factors weakening transparency. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are often censored or perceived as enemies by state actors, making their work even more difficult.

A central theme of the discussion was the urgent need for a revived and legalized BRACED Commission—a regional body originally created by the South-South governors for economic cooperation. Prof. Frank proposed that BRACED be transformed into a fully functional development agency with a robust structure, including a board of governors, a managing director, and presence across all six South-South states. The commission would drive regional investments, oversee education and agricultural development, and promote technical skills and infrastructural growth.

He also advocated for a stakeholder-driven governance model rooted in the Stakeholder Theory, calling for citizen participation, civil society engagement, and a social contract between governments and the governed.

“Governance in the Niger Delta is a bazaar,” Prof. Frank said candidly, “as most state governments fail to publish audit reports or respond to the needs of the people.”

The event concluded with a call to action for citizens, CSOs, the media, and progressive stakeholders to demand transparency, challenge entrenched corruption, and press for legislative reforms to support regional cooperation and sustainable development.

Social Action reaffirms its commitment to promoting inclusive governance and public accountability. We believe that only through sustained collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and institutional reform can the Niger Delta overcome its legacy of neglect and begin a journey toward equitable development and dignity for all.

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