Communities Hail Minister’s Efforts To Fix N’Delta Problems

Following the appointment of Obong Umana Okon Umana as minister for Niger Delta Affairs, communities in the region under the umbrella of the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) have commended him for his pragmatic approach at solving problems of the region.
The communities said that before his appointment as minister, issues of uncertainty, apprehension and danger loomed large in the region due to reckless management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by his predecessor.
MOSIEND, in a statement by its National Secretary, AmbAmain Winston Cottrell, said problems of undue delay in the constitution of the board, financial impropriety, non-approval of 2021-2022 budget, indiscriminate employment, leaving the region on the brink of crisis were the order of the day at the commission.
The group said such recklessness and appeals to President MuhammaduBuhari to remove BarristerEffiongAkwaas sole administrator and inaugurate the board had met a brick wall.
“This self-styled administration of the former minister of Niger Delta Affairs threw the region into poverty, which made the people loose confidence in Mr President as every appeal to correct the anomaly was futile”.
Cottrell thanked Buhari for replacing Akwa with someone with proven track record and a good finisher to undertake the onerous task at the commission.
“We thank Mr President, who saw the need to draft in someone competent, with proven track record and a good finisher to undertake the onerous task and that ObongUmana has been able to prove”.
The statement further described the disengaged sole administrator as ‘a clog in the wheel of our progress in the region”.
“The former NDDC sole administrator had been a clog in the wheel of our progress, thanks for his disengagement”, he said, adding that “calm has returned to the region”.
“Today, the region is calm, Mr President has transmitted list of board nominees to the National Assembly, Mr President has issued an approval to the minister for the transmission of the 2021-2022 budget for the commission. Mr President has approved almost every proposal and document that will bring accelerated development into the communities, the minister has even directed immediate responses to flood victim, prompt response to the region”.
MOSIEND also commended Buhari for the appointment of Umana Okon Umana, a quiet achiever to conclude the last phase of the administration.
“We commend Mr President for appointing Umana Okon Umana, who is a quiet achiever to conclude the last phase of the administration.
“We are satisfied with his appointment and have the confidence that he will bring the dividends of democracy to bear.
“We urge every ethnic group to rally round the minister and give him the right environment to function.
“Thumbs up to the minister for rekindling our hope and for working the talk”, Cottrell added.

By: Chinedu Wosu