Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has criticized the Federal Government’s hold on Nigeria’s natural resources, claiming this centralized authority fosters insecurity, promotes injustice, and leaves host communities in poverty. Speaking at the 2026 Democracy Dialogue in Bauchi, Diri argued that the current framework for managing oil and mineral wealth is a primary driver of national instability.
Diri highlighted that states rich in minerals, such as Zamfara, often suffer from increased violence following resource discoveries. He suggested that Nigeria’s security issues are rooted in structural inequities where regions generating significant wealth are neglected. Pointing to the community of Oloibiri, where oil was first discovered in Nigeria, he described its current state of underdevelopment as proof of failed federal policy.
The governor also voiced frustration regarding the unequal distribution of local government areas, noting that Bayelsa is disadvantaged despite its massive oil contributions. He cited the lack of road access to Southern Ijaw Local Government headquarters for decades as a clear example of how productive regions are ignored. Diri called for genuine federalism, arguing that states must have control over their own resources to reduce reliance on federal handouts and address underlying grievances. He urged leaders to pursue constitutional reforms to move away from what he characterized as a pseudo-democratic system that concentrates power in the center.
