The Inter-Party Advisory Council has criticized the recent appointment of a Minister of State for Petroleum Resources from the Niger Delta region. According to Yabagi Sani, the National Chairman of IPAC, this move sends the wrong message and could create a feeling of entitlement among people from the region. Sani made these comments during Thursday’s Sunrise Daily breakfast program on Channels Television.
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“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 a very important ministry.
“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 suggested that the petroleum sector should be looked into from a professional point of view and a national interest point of view,” he said.
Sani stated that the responsibilities of the President are weighty and critical for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, noting that if the ministry is reserved to the president, there could be issues lingering on accountability and efficiency in fighting crude oil theft.
