Niger Delta Fund Initiative: Letter of Introduction

Niger Delta Fund Initiative

Letter of Introduction

February 1, 2004
NIGER DELTA FUND INITIATIVE
Dear Friends in Justice,
This letter is to invite your participation in the Niger Delta Fund Initiative (NDFI). The NDFI is designed as an instrument to institute a transparent and equitable distribution of resource rents and royalties for integrated restoration and sustainable development of Nigeria's oil bearing communities.
Due to endemic corruption and poor governance, oil dividends have not benefited the people of the Niger Delta region. This has resulted in much restiveness and bloodshed, as well as frequent disruption of drilling activities by way of oil pipelines vandalizing and oil staff hostage taking by aggrieved youths of the region.
On the issue of poor governance, operators of our local system have not been innovative enough in terms of policy formulation to stimulate the growth of grassroots economics towards the revitalization and sustainability of the region. Local government councils have become mere salary paying outposts and conduit pipes for siphoning public funds rather than being centers of healthy leadership.
Since its inception, the NDFI has been receiving encouraging support and endorsement from both international organizations and local NGOs in the Niger Delta region. Community leaders understand that the establishment of the proposed oil royalties distribution fund would have several advantages, including decreased conflict in the region which would give greater security for oil production and stimulate the growth of community based economics.
Our initiative is working with NGOs and government officials to form and implement the Niger Delta Fund (NDF). Similar to the Alaska Permanent Fund but with some modifications, the NDF will be a transparent legal mechanism whereby a portion of the oil royalties may be distributed directly to the people as individual dividend payments while a greater portion of the oil revenue due the region will be made available as direct investment and low interest revolving loan funds for restoration and sustainable development that will encourage self employment as well as the establishment of small scale industries. Other percentages of the fund shall be earmarked for conflict resolution, integrated conservation development projects, and the setting up of a Sustainable Energy Development Agency.
The current organizing partners of the NDFI are: Africa Center for Geoclassical Economics, Earth Rights Institute, and the Henry George Institute. All are member organizations of the International Union for Land Value Taxation which has consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC. The major local partner is African Network for Environmental and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Benin City.
We are dedicated to the advocacy of green taxation and land value taxation policies that are rooted in an ethic of fair rights to the resources of the earth for all. Sustainable and equitable public finance is a complimentary component of the NDFI as is a holistic approach to the revitalization of the Niger Delta region.
In addition to NGOs and community based organizations, we are working with state governments in the Niger Delta and with experts associated with the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.
The Niger Delta Fund Initiative's first public forum is schedul ed in June 2004 with an international conference in the city of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State of Nigeria.
We invite your collaboration, partnership, co-sponsorship and endorsement of the Niger Delta Fund Initiative. An Executive Summary follows this letter and a Partnership Form for you to indicate your level of participation in the Initiative. Included is additional information on the current situation in the Niger Delta that provides important background material.
If you or your organization is willing to financially support the Initiative in part or wholly, please find below the Budget and Funding Request included in this communication.
If you are interested in joining with us, please contact either of the following:
MR. GORDON ABIAMA, DIRECTOR
Africa Center for Geoclassical Economics
P.O. Box 925, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State
Bosy House, KM 1 Tombia Road, Etegwe, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
Tel: 08023171096
E-Mail: gordon@earthrights.net
or
ALANNA HARTZOK and ANNE GOEKE, CO-DIRECTORS
Earth Rights Institute
P.O. Box 328
Scotland, PA 17254, USA
Tel: 717-264-0957
Fax: 717-264-5036
E-Mail: Hartzok:alanna@earthrights.net, Goeke: annie@earthrights.net
WEBSITE: www.earthrights.net
Hoping to hear from you as soon as possible.
Yours truly,
Gordon Abiama
NEXT: Executive Summary

http://www.earthrights.net/nigeria/intro.html