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"Scrapping or Renaming? Mixed Reactions Erupt Over Niger Delta Ministry Shake-Up"

Yakubu Haruna Yakubu 

The recent decision by President Bola Tinubu's administration to scrap and rename the Ministry of Niger Delta Development has sparked a wave of mixed reactions, especially from Niger Delta leaders and activists who are strongly opposed to the move. While some officials in the Federal Government argue that the ministry has merely been renamed to the Ministry of Regional Development, key stakeholders from the region insist that the change could marginalize the interests of the oil-rich zone.

At the forefront of the opposition is Elder Statesman and Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, who categorically rejected the decision, accusing the government of using the resources of the South-South region to fund other zonal development commissions. He urged President Tinubu to explain the rationale behind the scrapping of the ministry, warning that Niger Delta communities would not accept the decision without a fight.

A Controversial Renaming

Following a Federal Executive Council meeting, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, addressed the media, clarifying that the Ministry of Niger Delta Development had not been abolished, but renamed to expand its focus. "The ministry has been renamed to the Ministry of Regional Development, overseeing not just the Niger Delta but also other regional commissions across the country," Onanuga explained.

Engineer Abubakar Momoh, who now heads the rebranded ministry, reiterated that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) remains intact, and there is no loss of resources or focus on the region. “All the structures and everything about the Niger Delta remain. It’s just a change of nomenclature and expansion of activities,” Momoh assured.

Clark: “We Will Not Allow This”

However, Chief Clark has dismissed the explanation, maintaining that there is no justifiable reason to scrap a ministry that was specifically established to address the unique challenges of the Niger Delta region. He believes the renaming is a subtle attempt by the Federal Government to divert funds meant for the development of the Niger Delta to other zones.

“The ministry was created by late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to address security and development issues in the Niger Delta, ensuring peace and preventing pipeline vandalism. Scrapping it now makes no sense and undermines those efforts,” Clark stated passionately.

He further expressed concerns over the lack of concrete development plans for the region under the new structure. Citing long-standing issues such as the unfinished East-West Road, Clark accused the Federal Government of having no real agenda for the Niger Delta. “They’ve handed the East-West Road back to the Ministry of Works, and there’s no funding or action plan for it,” he added.

A Broader Scope or Marginalization?

The Federal Government’s decision to merge the Niger Delta Development Ministry into a broader Ministry of Regional Development is meant to streamline efforts across all regional development commissions. But critics like Clark believe this move could dilute the focus on the Niger Delta’s unique needs, such as environmental degradation from oil spills, poverty, and underdevelopment in the oil-producing communities.

Clark also criticized the broader trend of regional commissions popping up across the country. “We agreed on specific revenue allocations to each region during the national conference, but now it feels like the South-South’s resources are being siphoned off to fund these other commissions,” he warned.

The Way Forward

Clark’s comments reflect the growing tension between regional leaders and the Federal Government over the management of the Niger Delta’s resources and development projects. Many fear that this restructuring could lead to reduced attention and funding for the region’s pressing issues, which were the very reasons the ministry was created in the first place.

As the debate rages on, it’s clear that the Federal Government will need to engage in dialogue with the Niger Delta’s leaders to address their concerns. Without that, the opposition is likely to intensify, with stakeholders like Chief Clark vowing not to let the issue rest.