President Bola Tinubu has redeployed Abubakar Momoh as the Minister of Niger Delta four days after ‘omitting’ the ministry specifically dedicated to placating the oil-rich region.
On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, Tinubu released the portfolios for his cabinet members, but Niger Delta was omitted from the list of new and modified Federal Ministries in Nigeria.
A few hours after the list was released, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) expressed fear and urged the president not to scrap the ministry.
And on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said the Youth Minister designate Abubakar Momoh had been redeployed to the modified ministry which will now be called the Ministry of Niger Delta Development.
Recall that PANDEF leader Chief Edwin Clark had on Friday urged the president that decision to scrap the ministry would “create an unfavourable environment with adverse consequences.”
The group in a communique said:
“The meeting discussed issues pertaining to the ongoing appointment and assignment of Ministers, as it affects the states of the Niger Delta region and South-South Geo-Political Zone, particularly, the omission of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
“The meeting resolves as follows: Expresses great surprise that in the published assignment of Ministers to their various cabinet portfolios, there is none designated for the existing Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.”
PANDEF reminded Tinubu that ”the Ministry of Niger Delta was created, specifically, to “focus on infrastructural development, environmental protection and empowerment of youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta region”, which continues to be greatly impacted by the oil and gas industry, and remains the live-wire of the national economy.”
In the same vein, the Transportation Minister designate Gboyega Oyetola was also redeployed to the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy. Other changes were also made.