NEWS
Dagogo Blasts N’Delta Govs Over Derivation Fund Misuse
Former federal lawmaker, Farah Dagogo, has accused Niger Delta governors of mismanaging the 13 percent derivation funds meant for the development of oil-producing communities.
Dagogo, who represented the Bonny-Degema Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, expressed his concerns in a statement released on Monday in Port Harcourt, signed by his media aide, Ibrahim Lawal.
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The ex-lawmaker, a governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, lamented that despite receiving trillions of naira over the past 23 years, the Niger Delta region remains plagued by extreme poverty, poor infrastructure, and widespread disease.
Dagogo revealed that in the first half of 2024 alone, over ₦600 billion was disbursed to the region through the derivation fund. However, he criticized successive state administrations for failing to translate these funds into tangible improvements in the lives of the people.
“The people of these oil-rich communities still live in squalor despite the trillions allocated to the region,” Dagogo said.
He also noted that while the Federal Government has made efforts to steadily increase the 13 percent derivation, the funds have yet to deliver meaningful change in the Niger Delta.
The statement reads, “In January, N57.92 billion was released to oil-producing states. In February, it rose to N85.10 billion, and in March, the Niger Delta oil-producing states got N166.24 billion.
“The sums were N90.12 billion, N120.45 billion, and N106.50 billion for April, May, and June, respectively. Yes, we all agree that this Federal Government has not lived up to its billing.
“However, in this instance, you have to agree and acknowledge that these allocations demonstrate the Federal Government’s continued support for state governments, particularly in oil-producing regions, where the derivation funds serve as a critical source of revenue for addressing their unique challenges.”
Dagogo pointed out that the poor management of the funds has caused the public to develop a “subconscious apathy” towards the amounts being allocated.
He expressed frustration that the 13 percent derivation, meant to address the infrastructural and environmental challenges in oil-producing communities, is largely squandered or unaccounted for by the governors.
The former lawmaker further accused the governors of treating the funds as “free money” rather than taking on their responsibilities as stewards of these vital resources.
“This 13 per cent derivation is the fund set aside to assist oil-producing communities in tackling infrastructural decay and degradation—my emphasis on the oil-producing communities!
“It is a constitutional requirement, and what it means is that in sharing the federation account revenue, 13 per cent should be set aside to assist the development of these oil-producing communities. More than two decades down the line, what is there to show for the humongous monies that have come in?
“This is a very sad commentary as it relates to the oil-producing communities of the Niger Delta. What we have instead are governors trying to impose their stooges to continue that lineage of plundering that fund.
“That’s the result of most in-fighting between former governors and their installed successors. Conduct an investigation into these areas, these oil-producing communities, and you will weep when you gauge their abject living conditions against what has been allocated for them. No electricity, no drinking water, no roads—total lack of basic amenities.”
“Why are the Governors, who receive these funds on behalf of these communities, so indifferent to their plight? They have established a pattern of filling their pockets with funds and continuing to live large rather than committing them to the development of the communities.
“The answer lies in how the governor wishes to expend the funds, as opposed to its constitutional provisions.
“We need an explanation, with irrefutable facts, on how the derivation funds intended to better the lives of the people and their oil-producing communities have been expended.”
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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