The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has called the attention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the fact that there would be consequences for his actions against the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
President Tinubu has apparently scrapped the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs from the list sent to and acknowledged by the Senate.
Reports say that the ministry was scrapped over duplication of efforts with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which still functions.
Quoting a source on the development, SaharaReporters said that all responsibilities of the scrapped Ministry have now been moved to the NDDC.
In its reaction on Friday via a statement signed by its National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark and National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibok Essien, PANDEF berated President Tinubu’s action, asking the Nigerian leader to nominate a minister for the Niger Delta Affairs.
On Wednesday, August 16, Tinubu released a list of his ministers and their portfolios. He, however, did not appoint any minister to oversee the Niger Delta Ministry, confirming the reports about its scrapping.
At the end of their meeting in Abuja on Friday, PANDEF said the Ministry was created by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and sustained by the successive administrations of President Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari and must continue to function.
The forum threatened that scrapping the ministry now would be met with “adverse consequences.”
The forum’s statement reads: “The meeting discussed issues pertaining to the ongoing appointment and assignment of ministers, as it affects the states of the Niger Delta region and South-South geo-political zone, particularly, the omission of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs. The meeting resolves as follows:
“Expresses great surprise that in the published assignment of ministers to their various cabinet portfolios, there is none designated for the existing ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
“Reminds Mr President that the Ministry of Niger Delta was created, specifically, to focus on infrastructural development, environmental protection and empowerment of youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta region, which continues to be greatly impacted by the oil and gas industry, and remains the live-wire of the national economy.
“That the Ministry was created by late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008 and was sustained under his two immediate predecessors (Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari) to help advance the course of the peace in the Niger Delta region.
“Cautions that any misguided step towards scrapping or submerging the ministry will create an unfavourable environment with adverse consequences.
“Further cautions the federal government to desist from tampering with any institution(s), which along with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, have been flagship institution(s), to ensure peace and development in the Niger Delta region.
“We are hopeful that the federal government will be properly advised on this matter, even as we reiterate the commitment of the leadership of PANDEF and the people of the region to enduring the reign of peace and stability in the overall interest of the country.”