The senate commitee on Niger Delta Affairs on Thursday bemoaned deplorable level of infrastructure in the area and canvassed more funding for the supervising ministry.
The senators expressed concern when the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio spoke at the budget defence of the senate commitee on Niger Delta Affairs.
Indeed, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, representing Ondo south senatorial zone noted that ninety percent of the zone does not have electricity and sought for funds for the development of the zone.
“We have the longest sea shore in Nigeria, I appeal for assistance for the people of Ondo south” he said.
Akpabio who presented a total of N28.1billion for 2022 said the challenges of the ministry include inadequate provision of fund/ terrain, poverty and infrastructural deficit.
He emphasised that underfunding has affected ongoing projects, saying it could lead to insurgency in the Niger Delta if the trend continue.
“We have used little resources to maintain peace in the Niger Delta, we have amagamated all the ethnic nationalities.
“To ensure peace, provide infrastructural development and sustain peace in the Niger Delta” Akpabio said.
Senator James Manager, representing Delta South was more emphatic “the most peaceful zone is the Niger Delta but the budget does not support the peace.
“To sustain the peace, the budget should be increased, the budget of the ministry is too low, the zone is keeping the economy of the country” he said.
Similarly, Senator Degi Eremienyo, representing Bayelsa East expressed concern over the east-west road, stressing that the road deserve foreign loan.
“I think we are not being fair to the region, Bayelsa state is not being fairly treated” Eremienyo said.
Meanwhile, Akpabio while reacting to views expressed by the lawmakers assured that the east-west road is receiving attention “the road affects me too. Section 1-4 will be commissioned before the end of 2022, special funding arrangement is being considered.
“We have 345 projects in the ministry, we want to leave legacy, but we cannot do all of them” Akpabio said.
He however assured that the people of Ondo south would have electricity before the end of December, 2021.
Also speaking, chairman of the committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North stated “when we resume plenary we should use the opportunity to seek for additional fund for the ministry”.
He explained that allocation to the ministry of Niger Delta was nothing to write home about, saying it is a product of what is happening in the area “we believe the ministry should be well funded” Nwaoboshi said.
