Sani Yabagi, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has expressed concerns about selecting a Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from the oil-rich Niger Delta region, stating that such a decision sends a ‘misguided message’.
During his appearance on Channels Television’s “Sunrise Daily” breakfast show on Thursday, Sani explained that confining the appointment to a specific geographical area might foster a sense of entitlement among the Niger Delta populace.
President Bola Tinubu unveiled the portfolio assignments for 45 ministerial nominees on Wednesday. Among these, Heineken Lokpobiri, hailing from Bayelsa State, was designated as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources. However, the role of the Minister of Petroleum Resources was not explicitly mentioned.
This omission draws parallels to a pattern seen during the prior administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, wherein the former President retained the Ministry of Petroleum Resources portfolio while appointing Timipre Sylva, a former governor of Bayelsa State, as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
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Commenting on the newly-issued portfolios to Ministers, the IPAC chair said, “Unfortunately, this sector (Niger Delta) has been made to look as if people that should be appointed to that ministry should come from Niger Delta. It is a wrong signal because, when you now give people a sense of entitlement their efficiency becomes something that is not given due attention to.”
“I think we must change that scenario, but if he must do that – not because I am from the North Central – why don’t you give Federal Capital Territory to an indigene of North Central? – if you must be sensational about such very important ministry,” he said.
“What do we do about fighting crude oil theft?” he asked. “Crude oil theft endemically is perpetrated – from what we heard so far is from the people from that area.”
Sani proposed that a comprehensive approach should be taken when considering the petroleum sector, focusing on both professional expertise and national interests. He emphasized that the role of the President carries significant weight and holds crucial importance when it comes to the Ministry of Petroleum.
He expressed his concern that reserving the ministry solely for the president’s oversight might lead to challenges related to accountability and effectiveness in combating crude oil theft.
“I believe that that ministry is too important for the president to take as another responsibility for himself if that is the intention. The reason is that we have seen the kind of drawbacks we have had in the economy itself as a result of the lack of proper management of that industry (oil and gas sector).
“The president that is already more than occupied now is taking the ministry that he is going to supervise it himself. I am sure we may not see the result of what we want. What we want in that industry is for corruption must be chased out as quickly as we can,” he said.