Stakeholders in Edo State have berated the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr Abubakar Momoh for allegedly excluding oil Communities in Edo South Senatorial in federal government 2024 proposed Capital budget for the Ministry.
A draft copy of the approved budget proposal sourced from the Budget office that circulated on social media, indicates that none in oil producing communities in Edo South Senatorial district, while Edo North has the lion share in the budget.
The total budget of Niger Delta Ministry is N346.12 billion with a Recurrent Expenditure of N328.5 billion, while N18.07 billion was budgeted for Capital Expenditure in the budget, according to the draft from the Ministry under the Minister who hails from Etsako West Local government Area in Edo North Senatorial district.
A total of 212 projects had been listed in the proposal, comprising 109 new projects while 103 others were listed as ongoing projects in the draft copy that excluded oil Communities in Edo South.
A top five proposed Capital projects that were captured in the document are: Construction of 45 kilometers Okpella – North Ibie – Agenobode Road phase 1 in (Edo North), Edo State at the cost of N1.5 billion.
Construction of nine Classrooms States tagged ‘Global’ for the sum of N800 million, while design and construction of Ekperi – Osomogbe Road (Edo North) in Edo State, will cost N545 million.
Others are construction of Ihevbe – Ihevbe Ogbe Road (Edo North) in Edo State project that would be executed by the Niger Delta Ministry headquarters at N500 million, and construction of Oyuku – Atte Road in Akoko-Edo (Edo North), by the Ministry at the sum of N500 million.
Reacting to the development, a Benin based human Right activist, Leftist Osazee Edigin, called out Edo South lawmakers in National Assembly to be alive to their responsibilities.
He protested against the alleged neglect of oil communities and allocation of the projects to areas that are not produce oil in the State.
In a Facebook page on Saturday December 30, 2023, Leftist Edigin queried, “Where are the representatives of Edo south in the National Assembly?
“How can all capital projects be sited in Edo North and none in oil producing Communities in Edo south.
“The budget went though the national houses of assembly where Edo south representatives are presently collecting salaries and all manner of allowances.
“WE NEVER GET POLITICIANS FOR EDO SOUTH SHA.
“I WEEP FOR EDO SOUTH PEOPLE”, he lamented.
Meanwhile, some pressure groups have threatened to petition President Bola Tinubu for a review of the budget proposal which has dominated discussion among some residents of the State.
Recall that the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial district, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole had told newsmen after President Bola Tinubu election victory that his Senatorial district (Edo North) will benefit more for voting the Presidential Candidate of the ruling party at the 2023 Presidential pill.
Complaints arising from the plot are becoming more audacious ahead of the forthcoming Edo State governorship election.
There are concerns that if urgent steps are not taken to review government policies and federal government impact governance in the State, may throw up fresh agitations in the State.
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