The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has expressed fear that it may be difficult to realize President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision for the Niger Delta region.
He said paucity of funds was responsible for the multitude of abandoned and uncompleted projects in the region.
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The minister spoke on Tuesday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta to defend his ministry’s 2021 budget.
Akpabio, who lamented gross inadequate and dwindling budgetary allocation and releases over the years, sought the lawmakers’ assistance in shoring up the ministry’s budgetary allocation.
The sum of N26.6 billion was budgeted for the ministry in 2021, comprising N1.4 billion for Personnel, N877 million for Overhead and N24.3 billion for Capital.
Akpabio said the budgetary provision was meagre and significantly inadequate in the face of the mandate and goals of the ministry to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta region.
Akpabio lamented that the inadequate funding had led to the derailment of the programmes of engagement of the region’s youths and women, reduced training for knowledge acquisition, poor performance and protracted delay in project delivery and intermittent disruption by youths who chase away contractors from sites.
“Mr. Chairman, distinguished members, arising from the dwindling budgetary allocation and the increasing level of outstanding liabilities, we wish to solicit additional funding to enable the Ministry deliver on Mr. President’s mandate for the Niger Delta region,” he said.
