The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was created on September 10, 2008 by His Excellency, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to formulate and coordinate policies for the development and security of the Niger Delta Region comprising of the following states: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.
Address 11th Floor Federal Secretariat, Central Business District FCT Abuja, Nigeria.
Actual operation commenced in February, 2009, after the appointment of two Honourable Ministers and the posting of a Permanent Secretary with complement of a few Senior Staff.
The establishment of a Ministry to handle the development of the Niger Delta Region is another attempt by the Government to solve the development issues and challenges, including the perceived sense of exclusion, environmental degradation, poverty, and unemployment in the Region.
Prior to the creation of the Ministry, Government had taken many intervention measures, such as the establishment of Niger Delta Development Board of 1960, the Presidential Task Force on 1.5% Derivation which was set up between 1979 and 1983, the Oil Minerals Areas Producing Development Commission (OMPADEC) of 1992 and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) which was created in 2000 by an Act of Parliament. Unfortunately, these Agencies could not fully deliver the expected results, hence the establishment of the Ministry as a coordinating vehicle to drive the development process of the Region.
The mandate of the Ministry is to formulate and execute plans, programmes and other initiatives aimed at fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta Region. In addition, the Ministry is coordinating the activities of Government Agencies, Communities in the Area, International Development Partners (through the National Planning Commission), Donor Agencies and other relevant stakeholders involved in the development of the Region.
Policy Focus
The functions of the Ministry are to:
Oversee the implementation of Government policies on the development and security of the Niger Delta Region;
Coordinate the formulation of the Development Plan for the Region;
Formulate policies and programmes for youth mobilization and empowerment in the Niger Delta Region;
Advise Government on security issues concerning the Region;
Liaise with relevant Government, Non-Government and private organizations;
Formulate and coordinate policies for environmental management in the Region;
Liaise with host communities for the enhancement of the welfare of the people and the development of the Region;
Facilitate private sector involvement in the development of the Region;
Plan and supervise public education/ enlightenment programmes;
Liaise with oil companies operating in the Region to ensure environmental protection and pollution control;
Organise human capacity development as well as skills acquisition programmes for youths and women; and
Take adequate measures to ensure peace, stability and security with a view to enhancing the economic potentials of the Region.
Vision & Mission
The Vision of the Ministry is to serve as the primary vehicle for the execution of Government’s plans and programmes for rapid socio-economic development of the Region. The Mission Statement is to formulate and execute plans, programmes and other initiatives as well as to coordinate the activities of Agencies, Communities, Donors and other relevant Stakeholders involved in the development of the Region.
Functions
The mandate of the Ministry is to formulate and execute plans, programmes and other initiatives aimed at fast-tracking the development of the Niger Delta Region.
Functions of the Ministry are to:
· Oversee the implementation of Government policies on the development and security of the Niger Delta Region;
· Coordinate the formulation of the Development Plan for the Region;
· Formulate policies and programmes for youth mobilization and empowerment in the Niger Delta Region;
· Advise Government on security issues concerning the Region;
· Liaise with relevant Government, Non-Government and private organsizations;
· Formulate and coordinate policies for environmental management in the Region;
· Liaise with host communities for the enhancement of the welfare of the people and the development of the Region;
· Facilitate private sector involvement in the development of the Region;
· Plan and supervise public education/enlightenment programmes;
· Liaise with oil companies operating in the Region to ensure environmental protection and pollution control;
· Organise human capacity development as well as Skills Acquisition Programmes for youths; and
· Take adequate measures to ensure peace, stability and security with a view to enhancing the economic potentials for the Region.
Impact
The Ministry has contributed immensely to the infrastructural development of the Region. It has also recorded great success in the Economic Empowerment and Skills Acquisition programmes for the non-militant youths and women. In addition, the creation of the Ministry has contributed to the reduction of threat to peace and security in the Region as most Stakeholders are constantly engaged through sensitization and conflict resolution.
Conclusion
The Ministry has achieved in working towards its mandates to formulate, oversee and implement Government Policies in the Niger Delta Region; provide roads including efforts at completing the construction of the East-West Road; combat erosion and land degradation problems in many areas in the Region; and take measures to ensure peace, stability and security with a view to enhancing economic potentials of the people of the Region.
