The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure greater inclusion of the South-South in the Federal Government's road infrastructure programme, saying the region was largely overlooked in the recently approved ₦3.94 trillion projects.

The call follows the Federal Executive Council's (FEC) approval on Monday of road projects worth about ₦3.94 trillion across several states, alongside ₦286 billion for the procurement of pollution-control, pilot-transfer and firefighting vessels for the nation's ports.

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, had explained after the FEC meeting that the approvals covered the ₦1.832 trillion Mokwa-Tegina-Bida-Lambata Road in Niger State, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway concession, and 23 other road projects spread across Adamawa, Taraba, Ebonyi, Kwara, Cross River, Kogi, Lagos, Niger, Oyo and Plateau states.

Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, PANDEF National Chairman, Ambassador Godknows Igali, commended President Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure development but expressed concern over what he described as the limited allocation of projects to the Niger Delta region.

According to Igali, only one of the approved projects directly benefits the South-South despite the region's longstanding infrastructure challenges.

"While commending President Bola Tinubu and his cabinet on this commitment towards the physical infrastructure of the country, we in the South-South lament the fact that our region has again been grossly shortchanged with a very insignificant allocation of projects from this humongous sum," he said.

He noted that the only project close to the region was the road linking Benue and Cross River states, valued at ₦886 billion, adding that no other major road project traversing key parts of the South-South was included.

Igali argued that the lack of investment has continued to make road transportation difficult for residents of the Niger Delta, a situation he described as unacceptable.

The former diplomat also criticised the slow pace of work on the East-West Road, describing it as a project that has suffered prolonged delays despite repeated assurances from the Federal Government.

He further expressed concern over the condition of major ports in the region, including those in Calabar, Onne, Port Harcourt and Warri, alleging that they have remained neglected without clear plans for rehabilitation, modernisation or expansion.

PANDEF warned that continued neglect of the South-South could deepen feelings of marginalisation and exclusion among the people of the region.

The group urged President Tinubu to address what it described as an imbalance in infrastructure allocation, stressing that the Niger Delta remains the nation's primary source of revenue.

"The people of the Niger Delta therefore call on Mr President to look into this matter with a view to reversing the situation, bearing in mind that the Niger Delta region is the revenue base of the country," Igali stated.

Despite its concerns, PANDEF reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Federal Government's efforts to promote national economic growth.

The group assured the government that the people of the Niger Delta would continue to provide a peaceful and enabling environment for increased oil and gas production and sustained economic development.