The degrading and inhuman conditions Nigerians in the Niger-Delta region are living in came to the fore with the visit to the creeks by distinguished Senators of the Federal Republic. Senators from outside the region said theie recent visit to the region had opened their eyes to what some of them alleged to be the criminal neglect of the region by all levels of government, especially the past ones. A source from the Senate described the senator's visit as an eye opener on how the nation's elite took a disproportionate portion of the nation's resources.

However, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange (PDP, Bayelsa) put the blame for the underdevelopment of the Niger Delta region on the political leadership from the region whom he accused of not applying the appropriated funds to the region judiciously.

Another Senator who spoke on the visit was Senator Julius Ucha (PDP, Ebonyi Central) who, while agreeing that the people of the region were suffering, said the visit did little to reveal the brains behind the restiveness in the region.

"I have never had a contrary view other than the fact that there is the problem of gross under development of both human and infrastructure just like the perennial problems of droughts. People are not happy because there is a criminal neglect of the people over there. Money has been sent and yet there is nothing visible to show for it on the ground, " Senator Yau said.

Agreeing with him on a criminal neglect of the region, Senator Olajumoke said it was a "criminal, benign neglect by the leadership in Niger Delta at all levels of government if you measure development vis-?-vis revenue allocated. "

Senator Akinyede on his part said the visit had reinforced his opinion of the sufferings in the Niger Delta, adding: "We the elite take a disproportionate amount of the nation's resources. "

In his comment, Senator Ucha said: "I think in spite of our assessment that it is difficult to determine the real situation on ground and the mask behind the militancy. Until that is done, it is difficult to nip it on the bud. Unfortunately, the masses are paying dearly for it because there is nothing to show in the creeks. It requires very serious government intervention. "

Senator Barigha-Amange said: "While resources so far deployed are not enough, the political leadership has not used funds judiciously. I pray for a change of mind. "

He, however, called on all states and local government areas in the region to key into the NDDC master plan for the region. "This will be the barometer for measuring performance at all levels, " he said.