The Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta.
PANDEF’s decision was contained in a communique issued at the end of a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the Forum’s General Assembly noted with “serious concern the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta which was established to address specific issues bordering on the peculiar circumstances of the Niger Delta, it’s damaged environment and its overall importance to the national economy.”
PANDEF, led by elder statesman, Pa Edwin Clark, said the Ministry was dissolved without due consideration to those specific circumstances that led to its creation.
It also said there was no due consultation with the critical stakeholders in the region and beyond.
“PANDEF, therefore, calls on the federal government to further discuss this matter with a view to addressing several specific concerns, especially at a time when the government is pursuing policies to radically increase oil production,” it added.
“The Assembly welcomes the proposed South-South Commission to supplement existing Federal Agencies.
“However, the name of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NÐDC) should reflect its functions and the actual membership,” it stated.
On matters specific to the Niger Delta region, the Assembly called on the state governments to fully utilise the revenues from the 13% derivation to undertake the various critical programmes.
“These include roads like East-West Highway and the existing seven seaports in the area not being operated.
“To remedy the situation, the Assembly calls on the Federal Government to repair all failed roads, complete the East-West Highway, commence the building of the Calabar-Lagos railway, and set up a maritime mass transit system for the riverine areas of the Niger Delta,” PANDEF demanded.
Recall that a bill to create the South South Development Commission, SSDC, passed its second reading in the Senate last week.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Ekpeyong Asuquo from Cross River South.
The bill came up after five other similar ones for other geopolitical zones were signed into law.
Recall that President Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council, FEC, announced the scrapping of the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development.