Former Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, has defended the federal government’s decision to scrap the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, stating that the move is aimed at enhancing regional development coordination across Nigeria. This restructuring, according to Momoh, will streamline efforts to improve regional projects and ensure better oversight.
On October 23, 2024, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, dissolved both the Niger Delta and Sports Development ministries in a strategic move to consolidate regional development under one umbrella. The newly created Ministry of Regional Development will now manage the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other regional commissions, ensuring a more coordinated approach to addressing development challenges across the country.
Momoh, who has been appointed as the minister in charge of the Ministry of Regional Development, assured that the restructuring is purely administrative and does not diminish the focus on the Niger Delta region. Speaking to journalists after the FEC meeting, he emphasized that the NDDC remains fully operational and will continue to serve the needs of the Niger Delta people.
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“For our people in the Niger Delta, nothing has been taken away. The NDDC is still very much in place, now under the Ministry of Regional Development, which will ensure even better coordination of regional projects,” Momoh explained. He further described the move as a “forward-thinking” initiative by President Tinubu, designed to centralize regional development efforts and boost service delivery across the nation.
The new Ministry of Regional Development will now oversee not only the NDDC but also the North West Development Commission (NWDC), South West Development Commission (SWDC), and North East Development Commission (NEDC). This consolidation is expected to improve resource allocation, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and enhance the impact of development projects nationwide.
As the government pushes for a more unified approach to regional development, Momoh reiterated that the restructuring will expand the ministry’s activities, allowing it to better serve all regions, including the Niger Delta. “This is about ensuring that all regional commissions work together more effectively. Our goal is to ensure that every part of the country benefits equally from federal development initiatives,” Momoh added.
