The regular use of the concept ‘Niger Delta’ in referring to the lower Delta region of the country has been described as inappropriate, misleading, non scientific and capable of causing political disharmony in Nigeria. This was the position of the 30th Public Lecturer, Prof. Chukwuemekanim Sylvester Nwadiaro during his recently delivered lecture titled “Rivers, River Deltas and Nigeria’s Niger Delta: Scientific or Political Concept” which held on Wednesday, February 27, 2013.
He maintained that the lower Niger Delta, the Deltas of the Niger River in Nigeria were also often referred to as the oil Rivers because of its disposition as a major producer of Palm Oil and not because of Crude Oil and Gas. Prof. Nwadiaro seemingly, concluded that the phrase Niger Delta as used from inception was scientifically wrong and should therefore resort to lower Niger Delta to distinguish it from the Middle Delta in Mali while NDDC should be reverted to its former name OMPADEC as there are no cogent reason for its renaming adding that OMPADEC would better serve both present and future circumstances.
The important dignitaries who attended the occasion were HRH Eze Chinedu Njeribe, HRH Eze Nnani Oputa ( Eze Anene III of Oguta), Chief Damanze Emeka Ukachukwu, Chief Chukwudifu Anene and members of the University community.
