Group Charges Niger Delta Minister On Project Allocation

The Benin National Congress (BNC), a   socio cultural and political group, has appealed to the minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, to stop the short-changing of Edo South Senatorial District in allocation of political appointments and projects to the state.

This was contained in a letter to the chairman,

BRACED Commission Council and Governor Godwin Obaseki, titled “Selection For Political Appointments And Allocation Of Projects/Amenities–The Case Of Edo South” copied to President Bola Tinubu; Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

In the letter signed by Amb. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo and Comrade Maxwell Uwagboe,

president and  secretary general respectively,  the group alleged that the five major projects under the Niger Delta ministry in the 2024 budget were allocated/sited exclusively in Edo North where the minister hails from to the exclusion of other parts of the Niger-Delta, especially Edo South Senatorial District – being the area with oil and gas production basin of the Niger-Delta

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“In our letter of December 21, 2023 which was addressed to HRM, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II CFR, the Oba Of Benin, we expressed our surprise about the lopsided allocation by the Ministry of the Niger-Delta in its distribution of projects to be executed under the 2024 Budget, when all the five major projects under his Ministry were allocated/sited exclusively in his Edo North to the exclusion of other parts of the Niger-Delta Communities, especially Edo South Senatorial District – being the area with oil and gas production basin of the Niger-Delta.

“In our suspicion that it was a mistake, we believed that it could have been an oversight, and therefore sought to draw the attention of the ministry and the minister to this lacuna in its 2024 Budget projects distribution.

“The document also highlighted the major projects included in the Federal Government’s proposed 2024 National budget favouring Edo North For instance, N1.50b is allocated to the construction of 45km Okpella North, Ibie – Agenobode Road, Phase 1 in Edo State.

“The federal government also allocated N800m for the construction of classrooms in the 9 Niger Delta States (global); design and construction of Ekperi Osomegbe Road, amounting to N545m.

Other projects to be executed in Northern Edo State are the construction of Ihievhe – Ihievhe Ogbe Road and the N500m construction of Iyukwu – Atte Road in Akoko Edo, LGA.