...Paradoxically, the [Niger-Delta] territory that was identified as difficult to develop has borne the burden of Nigeria’s oil and gas production for the past 5 decades. With an oil sector that provides over 80% of Nigeria’s Government revenue and 95% of foreign exchange earnings, the difficult Niger Delta swamps and creeks account for over 70% of the nation’s oil output...The rest of Nigeria has so many...indices of development funded largely from the oil and gas revenue derived mainly from the neglected tract...The oil mineral and gas bearing communities have been at the mercy of powerful State Governors, most of whom utilise the larger portion of derivation funds for areas that do not suffer environmental devastation arising from oil exploration and exploitation activities...If we neglect to reduce the development gap between the Niger Delta and the rest of Nigeria and the oil wells dry up or oil ceases to be a revenue earner for Nigeria, then we will all be bewailing...[the neglect of the region] [refers to Shell, AGIP, Mobil, Texaco & Chevron]