PORTHARCOURT: Niger Delta human rights activist Annkio Briggs has condemned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to dissolve the Ministry of Niger Delta, calling the move misguided and ineffective.
Briggs explained that the Ministry was established by former President Umaru Yar’Adua for a specific purpose, and she believes that scrapping it based on external advice was a poor decision. She warned that if the move came from the president himself, it would be a serious misstep.
In October 2024, President Tinubu replaced the Ministry of Niger Delta with the newly formed Ministry of Regional Development, which will now oversee various development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North-West Development Commission, South-West Development Commission, and the North-East Development Commission.
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Briggs expressed concerns over the practicality of the new ministry, questioning whether the regions will now be expected to fund the commissions. She also pointed out that Nigeria operates with geopolitical zones, not regions, and questioned the implications of the term “regions” in the new structure. She emphasized that such a major shift in governance should not be decided unilaterally by the president but should involve national consultation.
Reflecting on the long history of underdevelopment in the Niger Delta, Briggs criticized the various agencies set up to address the region’s issues, such as the Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC), the Basin Authority, and the NDDC. Despite their creation, Briggs argued that the region has not seen the promised development.
She particularly criticized the NDDC, describing it as an ATM for failed politicians, alleging that the agency has been exploited by political figures who have lost elections or whose political careers have faltered.
Briggs’ remarks underscore the ongoing dissatisfaction in the Niger Delta regarding government initiatives, which many feels have failed to bring about meaningful development in the region.
