The oil-rich Niger Delta region will remain poor and underdeveloped if the various ethnic nationalities in the region continue to fight themselves, a member of the House of Representatives, Francis Waive, has said.

Waive, who represents Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, called on the people of the region to unite and fight in unison against the continued exploitation by internal and external forces.

The lawmaker lamented that in spite of the rich natural resources in the region, the people and the area have remained poor and underdeveloped.