The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on Thursday, lamented that the development of the Niger Delta is being threatened by the paucity of funds allocated to the Ministry.
Akpabio raised the concern while defending the Ministry’s 2022 Budget proposal before the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.
According to the Minister, the capital budget of N28.1 billion for the Ministry of Niger Delta for the year 2022 is considered insufficient and significantly inadequate considering the yearnings and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta region.
He urged the lawmakers to consider an increase in the capital allocation to enable the Ministry to sustain the all-around development of the region.
On the 2022 Budget proposal for the Ministry, Senator Akpabio presented a total estimate of N28.1 billion for 2022, N1.69 billion earmarked for personnel cost, N877 million overhead cost, while a total of N25.5 billion is allotted for capital expenditure.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, assured the Minister and his team that the Committee will interface with the leadership of the Senate on the need to provide adequate funds for the Ministry in view of the economic importance of the Niger Delta region to the country.