Why Appointing Petroleum Minister Of State From Niger Delta Sends Wrong Signal – IPAC

Why Appointing Petroleum Minister Of State From Niger Delta Sends Wrong Signal – IPAC

Yabagi Sani, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has voiced his concerns about appointing a Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from the oil-rich Niger Delta region, stating that it sends a ‘wrong signal’.

Appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily breakfast program on Thursday, Sani pointed out that confining such appointments to a specific state could foster a sense of entitlement among Niger Delta residents.

President Bola Tinubu unveiled portfolios for 45 ministerial designates on Wednesday. While he appointed Heineken Lokpobiri, who hails from Bayelsa, as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, he did not specify the portfolio for the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

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This omission mirrors a pattern from the previous administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, wherein the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was retained by the president, and Timipre Sylva, a former Bayelsa State governor, was appointed as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

Commenting on the ministerial portfolios, Sani remarked, “Unfortunately, this sector (Niger Delta) has been portrayed as if appointments to that ministry should be restricted to the Niger Delta. This is a misguided signal, as when people feel entitled, their effectiveness is often overlooked.”

He went on to say, “I believe we need to change this scenario. If the President must make such appointments – not because I am from the North Central – why not assign the Federal Capital Territory to someone from the North Central region? If you intend to make such a significant ministry sensational, then consider this option.”

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Sani raised the question, “How do we address crude oil theft? It appears that crude oil theft is predominantly carried out by individuals from that area.”

Sani recommended that the petroleum sector should be approached from both a professional standpoint and a national interest perspective.

He noted that the President has considerable weighty and critical responsibilities, which could impact the Ministry of Petroleum.

He expressed concerns that if the President retains the ministry under his purview, there could be challenges related to accountability and efficiency in tackling crude oil theft.

“I believe that this ministry is far too crucial for the President to personally oversee. We have already witnessed the economic setbacks caused by mismanagement of the oil and gas sector,” Sani emphasized.

He added, “The President, who is already overwhelmed with his current responsibilities, is now intending to supervise this ministry himself. I suspect that we may not achieve the desired results. What we need in this industry is a swift elimination of corruption.”

Sani concluded by stressing the importance of addressing corruption in the industry as a primary goal.