Former Federal Commissioner for Information and prominent South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s decision to dissolve the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, asserting that the people of the region will not accept the move.
Chief Clark highlighted the lack of justification for dissolving the Ministry, accusing the federal government of intending to redirect funds from the South-South region to support other regional development commissions.
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Chief Clark, who leads the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), emphasized that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was originally created by late President Umaru Yar’Adua to foster development in the region, ensure lasting peace, and combat pipeline vandalism.
He expressed disappointment, stating that the government’s current actions appear to undermine these objectives.
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According to Clark, there has been little attention to key projects under the Ministry’s purview, such as the East-West Road, which has now been transferred to the Ministry of Works without concrete plans or funding for completion.
He noted that the federal government’s focus on establishing various regional development commissions has raised concerns about its commitment to the Niger Delta.
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Clark also referenced agreements made during the 2014 national conference, where proposals to increase revenue allocation for the Niger Delta from 13% to 25% were discussed, ultimately settling at 18%.
He criticized the government’s failure to implement related decisions, such as allocating a portion of the Federation Account to regions affected by conflict and to the development of mineral resources.
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Calling for transparency, Clark urged the federal government to engage with leaders from the Niger Delta and the South-South region.
He warned against the dissolution of the Ministry without a clear replacement plan, expressing concerns that funds designated for the South-South might be diverted to other regions.
He emphasized the need for a government that prioritizes the people’s needs and operates with their consent, rather than acting unilaterally.
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The Federal Executive Council, led by President Tinubu, had on Wednesday announced the dissolution of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Ministry of Sports Development.
The announcement was confirmed by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.
