Akpabio And The Forgotten Ministry Of Niger Delta Affairs Budget

COMRADE OWUDIYE LAWRENCE

It is surprising to note that Nigerian and Niger Deltans have forgotten about the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs that is saddled with the responsibility of developing the Niger Delta region.

Niger Deltans have forgotten about the Ministry that is saddled with the responsibility of constructing the East west road and the building of vocational centres across the Niger States that are now abandoned and dilapidating in all the sites they are been established.

Niger Deltans have forgotten that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs have annual budgetary allocations just like other ministries.

Niger Deltans have forgotten that Elder Godsday Orubebe once served in this ministry and little mark was made by the ministry in the little development of Niger Delta.

Niger Deltans have forgotten that in the  2021 budget that the  sum of N26,592billion is been  allocated to the Ministry which the Minister Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio complained of been meagre when he was defending the budget but yet we have not seen what was done with what was budgeted.

Are Niger Deltans aware that the Minister  disclosed that out of the N26.5billion 2021 budget proposal, Capital expenditure would gulp N24,272,359,581.00, Personnel – N1,443,111,339.00 and Overhead – N877,089,120.00.

That N2.240billion would be spent on Housing and Urban Development, Community Development and Education – N265million, Economic Empowerment – N980million, Environmental Management N963,639,361.04 and General Services – N60,000,000.00.

That out of the N19,533,720,033.30 earmarked for Infrastructure Development, N15billion would be spent on the East West Road and N4.5billion for other road projects.

That Planning, Research and Statistics would gulp N120million, Monitoring and evaluation – N70million N60.4million would be spent on Survey.

Niger Deltans should ask the Minister the activities,projects carried out by the Ministry of Niger Affairs this year as analysed by the budget provision because all we read from the headlines is the forensic audit of NDDC and nothing is been said about the Ministry.

Permit me to ask if the Ministry has nothing to offer, then there is no need to make budgetary allocations to the Ministry that cannot be accounted for.

– Comrade Owudiye Lawrence (National Chairman Ijaw Affairs Movement) Writes from Warri Delta State.