The House of Representatives has halted a motion urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider his recent decision to rename the Ministry of Niger Delta Development to the Ministry for Regional Development.
The motion, proposed by Hon. Oboku Oforji (PDP, Bayelsa), called for the presidency to restore the ministry’s original focus on the Niger Delta. The sponsor argued that the name change could dilute the ministry’s mandate, potentially impacting ongoing development projects in the oil-rich region.
However, during the House session, the motion was set aside after a majority of lawmakers agreed that “it has been overtaken by events.”
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, informed the House that he met with President Tinubu last week and received assurances that the president is favorably inclined to considering the South-South Development Commission Bill.
The bill aims at addressing specific issues and promote development within the Niger Delta region.
The House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), advised the lawmaker to consider stepping down the motion, explaining that recent developments had already addressed the issues it raised.
Ihonvbere acknowledged that while the concerns in the motion were valid, converting the Niger Delta Development Ministry to the Ministry of Regional Development would not undermine the progress in the Niger Delta region. Instead, he clarified, this change would expand the ministry’s mandate, fostering development in additional regions while maintaining the focus on the Niger Delta.
Earlier while moving the motion, Oforji recounted the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development on September 10, 2008, by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who appointed Ufot Ekaette as its first minister.
He noted that the ministry was established to drive policies that foster development, peace, unity and security across the Niger Delta Region. Its mandate included formulating and implementing strategic plans, programs and initiatives, while also coordinating the efforts of agencies, communities, donors, and other stakeholders involved in the region’s development.
He said; “It was in the short term of late President Yar’Adua ‘s leadership from Katsina State that dialogue was initiated with major stakeholders in the region and militants culminating in the Amnesty Progam that has brought relative peace to the oil rich Niger Delta Region.
“These were prelude to the creation of the ministry which was aimed at infrastructural development, environmental protection and empowerment of the youths in the oil rich Niger Delta Region.
“Are we there yet? The answer is no, but the people of the Niger Delta believe that the lofty dreams and aspirations of the founding fathers of the region will be actualised someday, hence their embrace of the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development.”
He expressed concern that “on the 24th of October 2024,the oil rich region witnessed palpable tension following the announcement of the scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This is not a good omen for a region that has contributed immensely to the economy development of our their country and has enjoyed some relative peace.”
He recalled that the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had a clear vision and genuine intention in establishing the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as a means to address the longstanding suffering, neglect and grievances of the region, a region that has produced the nation’s economic wealth for decades yet remains underdeveloped and poorly governed.
He emphasised that years of oil spillage, a lack of arable land and limited social amenities had driven the emergence of militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta.
He said, “It was during the brief leadership of late President Yar’Adua, from Katsina State, that dialogue was initiated with key stakeholders and militants in the region. This eventually led to the Amnesty Program, which has since brought relative peace to the oil-rich Niger Delta.
“These steps paved the way for the creation of the ministry, which was intended to focus on infrastructural development, environmental protection and youth empowerment in the Niger Delta.”
Reflecting on the progress, he added, “Are we there yet? The answer is no. But the people of the Niger Delta continue to believe that the lofty dreams and aspirations of the region’s founding fathers will one day be realized, which is why they welcomed the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.”
However, he expressed concern over the recent announcement on October 24, 2024, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, declaring the scrapping of the ministry.
