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By Godwin Chukwumaechi
The Niger Delta Rights Advocates (NDRA) has given the new minister of Niger Delta, Abubakar Momoh, a single-point agenda of focusing on and completing the abandoned sections of the East-West Road.
In a communique signed by Hon Bright Ngolo (chairman) and Irikefe R.O. (mobilization director), the group, which prides itself as the “intellectual powerhouse for youths in the Niger Delta region,” called on President Bola Tinubu to reconstitute the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ensure equal representation of all nine (9) member states that make up the region.
The calls were part of a nine-point communique adopted by stakeholders and executive members of the NDRA at the weekend in Port Harcourt on appointment of ministers of Niger Delta extraction and the stand of the group on the vacancy at the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
It also appealed to President Tinubu to consider for appointment into the ministry, an individual with the requisite understanding of the nuances of the youth constituency, coupled with experience to liaise and coordinate the diverse blocs/interest groups of this unique constituency like the APC youth leaders, NANS, NYCN.
NDRA said “the grassroot acceptability/contributions is vital for the would-be appointee not an Abuja-based politician”, as it canvassed for the appointment of Barrister Mustapha Bello Mohammed into the ministry.
According to NDRA, Barrister Mustapha Bello Mohammed is a former secretary of the disbanded Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council in Taraba state who also served as coordinator of all NGO Support Groups for Tinubu/Shettima 2023 in Taraba State.
“Our call is an exemplary demonstration of the much trumpeted hand shake across the Niger, reinforcement of our belief in a united Nigeria and the recognition of hard work and merit beyond religious, regional or ethnic sentiments.”
NDRA further demanded that “accountability and performance by the Niger Delta Development Commission be strengthened by the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through activating Part 6 Section 21 of the Establishment Act 2000 by appointing a Presidential Monitoring Committee for the NDDC to monitor the management of funds, implementation of projects and have unhindered access to the record books of the Commission and reporting to the President regularly.
“The NDRA shall in the coming days publish details of billions of Naira credited to the NDDC via 50% of Ecological funds due member states, 15% of total monthly allocations due member states and 3% of total annual budget of oil companies and gas processing companies”.
