TheCable

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has asked President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the omission of a minister of Niger Delta affairs in his cabinet.

On Wednesday, President Bola Tinubu assigned portfolios to minister-designates some days after they were confirmed by the senate. But the president omitted the Niger Delta affairs ministry from the list.

In a communique issued at the end of the meeting of its board of trustees (BoT) and national executive committee (NEC)  on Friday, PANDEF expressed “great surprise” that no portfolio was designated to the existing ministry of Niger Delta affairs.

The communique was jointly signed by Edwin Clark, PANDEF convener, and Emmanuel Essien, national chairman of the forum.

The forum reminded Tinubu that the ministry was created specifically to “focus on infrastructural development, environmental protection and empowerment of youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta region”.

The forum added that the ministry, which was created by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008, was sustained under Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, former presidents, to advance the course of the peace in the Niger Delta region.

“Any misguided step toward scrapping or submerging the ministry will create an unfavourable environment with adverse consequences,” PANDEF warned.

“Further cautioned the federal government to desist from tampering with any institution(s) which along with the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, have been flagship institution(s), to ensure peace and development in the Niger Delta region.”

PANDEF expressed hope that the federal government will be properly advised on the matter, adding that its leadership and the people of the region are committed to enduring peace and stability in the overall interest of the country.