By Daniel Edu
Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, expressed his approval of President Bola Tinubu’s decision to reinstate the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, considering it a positive step. He acknowledged that this ministry plays a crucial role in addressing the unique needs of the Niger Delta region, promoting sustainable development, peace, and stability. The Ministry’s exclusion from initial ministerial appointments had raised concerns that it might have been abolished.
Dokubo-Asari also urged President Tinubu to consider changing the name of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) back to the Oil Mineral Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC). He argued that the NDDC’s change in nomenclature inaccurately limited its scope to the Niger Delta region, excluding other oil-producing areas in Nigeria. He reminded Tinubu of the historical struggles and agitations of the Niger Delta people and called for the recognition of all oil-producing areas regardless of their geographical location.
Dokubo-Asari commended Tinubu’s reinstatement of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as a sign of a listening and caring leader. He emphasized that the Niger Delta would remember this action and repay it in various ways.
