EKET (AKWA IBOM) - A socio-cultural group in Eket, Akwa Ibom, Afigh Iwaad Ekid, has appealed to the Federal Government to insist on merit for all appointments into the new Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.

The President-General of the group, Chief Ibanga Etang, told newsmen on Monday in Eket that merit, rather than quota should be used as a criterion to appoint people into the new ministry.

“Quota has failed to enthrone credible leadership in other ministries. Government should allow only tested and credible professionals to run the ministry, to enable it achieve its goals,” he said.

Etang said the ministry should be given the powers to check the excesses of the oil and gas companies operating in the region.

He also said the roles of the ministry should be clearly defined, to avoid duplication of functions with NDDC, adding that the ministry should strengthen and not weaken NDDC.
Etang urged the leadership of the Niger Delta region to nominate candidates for ministerial appointments, based on qualification and track record, to ensure that the development needs of the region were met.

He described the creation of the new ministry as a welcome development, and a response to the agitations and aspirations of the people of the Niger Delta region.

The president-general commended the Federal Government’s desire to address the Niger Delta crisis, and appealed to the people to reciprocate the gesture by giving peace a chance in the region.

Chief Kinglsey Ekpo, a community leader at Okat, Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, said the new ministry would meet the high expectations of the Niger Delta people.
“The ministry should be empowered and properly funded to develop the region. It is one thing to create a ministry, and it is another to adequately fund it.

“For instance, the NNDC has very lofty programmes that are crying for funds to execute,” he said.

Ekpo said the new ministry should take care of human capacity development and poverty alleviation, while NNDC should concentrate on infrastructural development, under the supervision of the ministry.

He also appealed to government to ensure that people from the oil producing communities were made to hold sensitive positions in the ministry.