The Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has rejected President Bola Tinubu’s decision to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta and replacing it with a Development Commission. PANDEF’s decision was contained in a communiqué made available at the end of its meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday.
The communique titled “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, recalled that the Ministry was dissolved without a recourse to those specific circumstances that led to its creation before such decision were taken.
The group faulted President Tinubu led government in taking a unilateral decision to scrap such critical commission without consulting stakeholders from the region.
The statement partly said, “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”.
“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.
Calling the attention of their leaders, the group specifically called on their governors to ensure that the 13% derivative is judiciously utilised to address those specific programmes they were mend for.
It highlighted that “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.
Recalls that a bill to create the South South Development Commission, SSDC, passed its second reading in the Senate last week, which is if it eventually succeeds will replace the NNDC.
The bill was sponsored by Senator Ekpeyong Asuquo from Cross River South.
The bill is coming on the heel of after five other similar ones for other geopolitical zones were signed into law.
Vigil360 reported that President Tinubu and the Federal Executive Council, FEC, had last week announced the scrapping of the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development.