IYC Demands Immediate Establishment of RISOPADEC Board in Rivers
The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has called on Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, to take immediate steps toward the establishment and inauguration of the Rivers State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (RISOPADEC) and its governing board.
The call was made by the council’s National Spokesman, Comr. Victor Ibaningo, who said oil-producing and riverine communities in Rivers State need a dedicated and accountable institutional framework through which development interventions can be deliberately directed to communities bearing the environmental and socio-economic consequences of oil and gas exploration.
The IYC’s demand comes amid renewed concerns over development, environmental degradation and the management of oil derivation revenue in Rivers State.
Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution provides for the principle of derivation, under which not less than 13 per cent of revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly from natural resources is allocated to the state from which those resources are derived.
While the constitutional provision places the derivation allocation at the state level, some oil-producing states have established intervention institutions to channel portions of their derivation resources towards oil-producing areas.
The council cited the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) as an example of such an intervention framework, saying the commission is legally mandated to administer a portion of the state’s oil derivation resources for development in oil-producing areas.
The IYC therefore argues that Rivers State should establish a comparable mechanism to ensure sustained development attention for its oil-producing and environmentally impacted communities.
Rivers Received N114.06 Billion in Five Months
According to data reported by TheCable, Rivers State received approximately N114.06 billion in 13 per cent derivation allocations between January and May 2025.
The figure formed part of the N620.23 billion shared among nine oil-producing states during the five-month period, based on data from the National Bureau of Statistics and the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
The IYC maintains that the scale of Rivers State’s derivation revenue makes the demand for a transparent, accountable and community-focused development mechanism more pressing.
The issue, according to the council, is not simply whether Rivers State receives derivation revenue, but how effectively the benefits of those resources are translated into sustainable development for communities from which the resources are derived.
Bille Gas Crisis Raises Fresh Concerns
The situation in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area, has further highlighted the challenges confronting oil-producing communities in Rivers State.
In March 2026, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) launched an investigation into gas bubbling in Bille after concerns were raised over the incident. Subsequent reports documented continuing gas seepage from abandoned oil and gas infrastructure, alongside concerns about environmental contamination, livelihoods and public safety.
The NUPRC later confirmed that the Federal Government had visited Bille and provided immediate humanitarian support, while investigations into the source of the seepage continued. The commission also disclosed that preliminary investigations indicated contamination of the first aquifer and said measures were being taken to provide potable water and address other urgent needs.
For communities such as Bille, the IYC argues that development should not be measured solely by budgetary allocations.
It says development must be reflected in safe communities, functional infrastructure, environmental protection, healthcare, education, economic opportunities and sustainable livelihoods.
A Legacy Opportunity for Governor Fubara
The IYC acknowledged the Rivers State Government’s stated commitment to development and its emphasis on infrastructure and rural connectivity.
However, the council urged Governor Fubara to make the development of Rivers State’s riverine and oil-producing communities a defining part of his administration’s legacy.
The council said Governor Fubara, whose political background is closely associated with the riverine area, has an opportunity to establish a permanent institutional framework that could continue serving oil-producing communities beyond the tenure of any administration.
According to the IYC, the establishment and inauguration of a properly constituted RISOPADEC board would create an avenue for sustained planning, project implementation, community participation and accountability in the development of oil-producing and environmentally impacted areas.
The demand for RISOPADEC is not new. Oil-producing communities in Rivers State had previously called for the establishment of the commission during the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike, citing the need for a dedicated structure to oversee development in oil-producing and impacted communities.
IYC’s Demands
The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide is calling on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to:
- Initiate the necessary legal and administrative steps for the establishment of RISOPADEC.
- Constitute and inaugurate a credible, competent and representative RISOPADEC board.
- Ensure that oil-producing and impacted communities have meaningful representation in the development process.
- Establish a transparent framework for tracking funds allocated to development interventions in oil-producing areas.
- Prioritise environmental remediation, infrastructure, healthcare, education, potable water, youth empowerment and sustainable livelihoods in riverine communities.
- Develop an enduring institutional framework capable of continuing to serve oil-producing communities beyond the tenure of the present administration.
The council said its demand was not intended to promote confrontation but to seek accountability, equity and development for oil-producing communities.
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“The IYC is not calling for confrontation. We are calling for accountability, equity and development.
The oil-producing communities of Rivers State should not merely be recognised when their resources are required. They must also be recognised when development priorities are being determined.
Governor Fubara has an opportunity to make history. The Ijaw Youth Council urges him to seize it.
Let the establishment of RISOPADEC become a lasting legacy for the riverine and oil-producing people of Rivers State.”
The statement was signed by Comr. Victor Ibaningo, National Spokesman, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.
