BEFORE the creation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs over three years ago by the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua on September 10, 2009, violence bordering on rebellion and militancy enveloped the region.

The  militancy at that period reached the alarming proportion, which culminated in unprecedented level of insecurity of lives and property.

Not only that, the crisis in the region brought about dwindling economic fortunes in the country as it  crippled oil exploration activities in the region, on account of serial premeditated attacks launched on the equipment and installations belonging to major multi-national oil firms operating in the region.

Oil production in the region reduced to an all time low of 700,000 barrels per day, a development that crippled the running of affairs of the government since crude oil exportation is the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

What triggered off the agitation for resource control, which was to later snowball into full aggression by youths in the region, has been traced to several years of neglect of the region by successive administrations in the country. Having come to terms with  this disturbing situation, the late President Yar’Adua created the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to address the prevalent problems in the region.

Another response from the Federal Government that helped to foster relative peace in the region was the proclamation of amnesty for militants willing to lay down their arms. In  the event, over 26, 358 militants left the creeks to surrender their arms and ammunition after accepting the amnesty programme of the government.

The Ministry and the proclamation of the amnesty have in no small measure contributed to the relative peace presently being enjoyed in the region which has led to the  increase in oil output from 700,000 bpd at the height of the restiveness in the region to over 2.5 million bpd.

But it will appear that the peace in the region is now being threatened  by lack of funds for the Ministry to execute its post-amnesty programmes.    The hope and expectations of the people are fast evaporating due to the stagnant status of several development projects in the region.

This was recently brought to public notice by the Minister of Niger Delta Afairs, Chief Godsday Orubebe while addressing members of the House of Representatives Committee on the Ministry.

He noted that the N59.72 billion appropriated to the Ministry in the 2012 fiscal year “was grossly inadequate to cater for ongoing development projects in the region”. He told the Committee members who were on oversight function visit   that the amnesty programme initiated by his ministry accounted for the country’s oil output rising to 2.5 billion bdp, following relative peace being experienced in the region.

The Minister, therefore, requested for a legislation to ensure that five per cent of the revenue accruable in production levels is  made available to the Ministry to fund the deficit areas of its budget in order to encourage growth and development.

Expressing concern that laudable economic empowerment programmes that are highly desirable for the development of the once neglected region are marred by the continuous short falls of the ministry’s appropriation, the Minister added that “not less than 25 on-going community projects designed to hook the region to the national grid, would be discontinued, due to never ending short falls in the money released for the actualisation of the planned development of the region”.

He said: “Three years after the Nigerian government keyed into the Ministry’s bold initiative to grant amnesty to militants fighting mainly for development and job opportunities in the oil-rich Niger River Delta, violence has diminished, and oil revenues – which dropped at the height of the conflict – have increased,(i-e from 750,000 barrels per day to 2.5million)”.

Orubebe, therefore appealed to relevant authorities to as a matter of urgency, provide a corridor for real funding for intervention projects.

Giving a breakdown of his Ministry’s attainment with regards to their mandate in the nine Niger Delta states, he posited that the East- West road project inherited from the Ministry of Works at less than 10 % completion now stand at 48% completion.

Other achievements, according to him are 32% completion of skill acquisition centres, 55% completion of housing units project, creation of 7000 jobs which has enhanced local content policy of government, 71% completion of land reclamation job, 50% completion of erosion control project, among others.

The pitiful picture painted by Elder Orubebe infuriated the lawmakers who lambasted President Goodluck Jonathan over the allocation it described as a new threat to the much enjoyed relative peace in the region.

The lawmakers maintained that unless the executive takes a second look at the issue of meagre budgetary allocation for critical projects in the area, the quest for lasting peace in the region might be elusive.   They warned that if the aim of establishing the ministry, mandated to formulate policies to fast track development in the region, is defeated, then it will be an indictment of both the legislature and the executive.

Recall that at the time the Ministry took over the construction of the East -West road, the contractors were complaining of lack of funds. However, it is gratifying to note that during the first inspection tour of the  Minister in 2009, the contractors praised the Ministry because funds were made available to them as at when due and work progressed steadily.

It would appear, however, that the gains of 2009 have slowed in the succeeding years. Funding to the project has dwindled resulting in stagnation of work on the East-West road.

Mr. CHRIS OCHAYI, a journalist, wrote from Abuja.