Group Advises FG On N’Delta

The Federal Government has been told that the provision of infrastructure in the oil rich region should not be left alone for the Ministry of Niger Delta Affair.

The Coalition for Transparency and Accountability in Extractive Industries and Fisheries in Nigeria, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Asaba on Monday.The Chairman, of the Coalition, Mr. George-Hill Anthony, said that it would require the joint efforts of all government ministries and agencies to build the infrastructure needed in the Niger Delta.

He said, “We will prefer that the Federal Ministry of Works and its counterparts still carry out their responsibilities in the Niger Delta side by side with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.”

What I am advocating is that the Federal Government needs to be developing our region on a par with every other section of the country.”The Federal Government should not allow the Niger Delta ministry alone to carry the burden of developing the region,’’ he said. Anthony said that with the current capital vote of about N100 billion to the ministry, shifting responsibilities of other ministries to it would retard development in the region.