Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, has said that lack of funds has been preventing the ministry from empowering the people of the region.
Bamidele said this while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari of the ministry’s activities inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
She said “I came in from the Ministry of Niger Delta on the directive of the President to brief him on the activities of our ministry, mandate, vision, mission, activities, challenges and what we will like His Excellency to look into.
“Such challenges include funding. Since August 2014, we have not received any capital per head. So, a lot of our projects are being stalled and we don’t want abandonment of projects.
“So, we ask that fundings, can be sourced for the ministry’s projects.”
While explaining the mandate of the Ministry, she said “Our mandate is first to ensure the economic empowerment of the people. This we have done through the empowerment of women and youths in the Niger Delta. We have trained at least 4,000 people in agriculture, maritime activities and ICT.
“Part of our mandate also is to ensure we have peace in the region and to reduce militancy and restiveness amongst the youths. This we have to do through town hall meetings and sensitisation meetings with the people in the area.”