The House of Representatives has decided not to proceed with a motion urging President Bola Tinubu to reverse the renaming of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development to the Ministry of Regional Development.
The motion, proposed by Hon.Oboku Oforji (PDP, Bayelsa), was stepped down after Speaker Abbas Tajudeen revealed that President Tinubu is open to considering a South-South Development Commission Bill to address specific needs in the Niger Delta. The Speaker explained that this development made the motion unnecessary, as the concerns raised were already being addressed.
House Leader Hon. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo) supported the decision, stating that the ministry’s renaming would not reduce its impact on the Niger Delta but would instead expand its responsibilities to include other regions.
Earlier, Hon.Oboku had expressed concern over the renaming, recalling that the ministry was created in 2008 by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to address the long-standing neglect and underdevelopment of the Niger Delta. He emphasized the region’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s economy and the need to honor the ministry’s original purpose of fostering peace and development.
The House concluded that the motion was no longer necessary, focusing instead on broader legislative measures to support the region.
