The Federal Government’s decision to rename the Ministry of Niger Delta Development to the Ministry of Regional Development has sparked significant controversy, particularly among leaders and activists from the Niger Delta region. While the government has clarified that the ministry has not been scrapped, many, including Elder Statesman Chief Edwin Clark, have expressed strong discontent with the change.
Chief Edwin Clark’s Opposition
Chief Clark, an Ijaw leader, vehemently rejected the move, urging President Bola Tinubu to provide a clear explanation to the Niger Delta people. He alleged that the federal government intends to redirect resources from the South-South zone to fund development projects in other regions, which he described as an unfair maneuver.
Clark stated, “The news came to me as a surprise. There is no basis for scrapping it now… Yar’Adua had a reason for creating it, to develop the Niger Delta Region and Nigeria, to bring peace to the region.”
Government’s Clarification
In response to the backlash, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, addressed the media after a Federal Executive Council meeting, asserting that the ministry’s name change does not diminish its role or responsibilities.
Engr. Abubakar Momoh, the minister overseeing the newly created Ministry of Regional Development, emphasized that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) remains operational and that the change was merely a rebranding meant to expand the ministry’s scope. He stated, “It’s just a question of change of nomenclature… all the structures and everything about the Niger Delta remains.”
Concerns for the Future
Despite the government’s reassurances, many Niger Delta leaders are skeptical about the implications of this change. They argue that the ministry’s original intent—to foster development and peace in the region—could be compromised. Clark, representing the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), warned that the federal government’s actions signal a lack of commitment to the region’s development.
As discussions continue, it remains to be seen how the renaming of the ministry will affect the people of the Niger Delta and whether the government will address their concerns effectively.