My Naija News - Opposition hails Nigerian Government on Niger Delta Ministry, warns against business as usual

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Opposition hails Nigerian Government on Niger Delta Ministry, warns against business as usual

Thursday, 11 September 2008

The Action Congress (AC) has hailed the Nigerian federal government for hearkening to the voice of reason by creating the Niger Delta Ministry to propel a rapid development of the oil region.

In a statement issued in Abuja Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said, however, that there is the need to appoint time-tested individuals to take charge of the ministry, in addition to unveiling a blue print for the accelerated development of the region.

"A Ministry of Niger Delta that is not staffed by dedicated, committed and time-tested individuals will be nothing but a hollow ritual," it said, adding: "Ministries by themselves do not implement policies, people do!"

Recalling its several statements calling for the creation of the Niger Delta Ministry as well as the inclusion of the creation of that ministry in its manifesto during the campaign for the 2007 general elections , AC said the party is delightedly flattered that the federal government has seen the wisdom in its (AC) proposed intervention for the Niger Delta.

In a statement entitled "AC urges holistic solution to Niger Delta Crisis, warns against complacency" on 15 July 2007, we suggested, as immediate first steps to address the crisis which has already led to a 20 per cent cut in the country’s oil production, "the creation of a Niger Delta Ministry, and a blue print for the accelerated development of the region, with emphasis on infrastructure, amenities and job and wealth creation for the people of the region."

AC recalled that it further wrote: "While these first steps in themselves will not end the crisis (overnight), they will start the process of giving the long-suffering people of the region a sense of belonging, which has been missing for so long."

In another statement entitled: "Opposition not responsible for Niger Delta Crisis, says AC" dated 29 October 2007, we reiterated the call for the creation of a Niger Delta Ministry and pushed for "an urgent and holistic solution to the worsening crisis in the Niger Delta, warning that the current piecemeal approach and seeming lack of seriousness on the part of stakeholders would not solve the problems in the region."

The party said with the government’s decision to appoint two ministers for the Ministry of Niger Delta - with one overseeing infrastructural projects and another taking charge of youth empowerment (a euphemism for massive job creation) - our (AC) position that rapid infrastructural development and job creation are starting points for the return of peace to the Niger Delta has been vindicated.

"We will now wait and see whether or not the government is sincere in its efforts to end the hopelessness and despair that have enveloped this region for years," the party said.

It said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) should remain in place, albeit under the Niger Delta ministry, to continue to function as an interventionist agency.

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Comments (1)

	1. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 03-10-2008 23:10 - Guest
	WHAT IS THE FATE OF OIL PRODUCING COMMUN Developmentally,oil bearing comunities in bayelsa state are the most underdeveloped,marginalised & downtrodden in the whole niger delta,there is no motorable road,no pipe born water,no standard hospital & electricity in any of the oil producing comunities in bayelsa state.But these are the comunities that the oil resource are being extracted from, bears the brunt of detrimental excruciating oil explorative impact.for instance,Egbemo-Angalabiri,the highest oil producing community in bayelsa state has no single infrastructure,no single government presence & human capital development initiative.What is the GOVERNMENT doing about it & the so-called NDDC which is solely saddled with niger delta development responsibilities?

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