The Federal Ministry of Regional Development has called on the National Assembly to support its request for increased funding to effectively deliver on its mandate.
The Minister, Abubakar Momoh, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during his appearance before the joint committee on regional development to defend the ministry’s 2025 budget proposals.
Momoh highlighted the ministry’s commitment to working closely with the committee to achieve a workable and impactful budget. He noted that the ministry’s 2025 budget envelope is capped at N28.9 billion, comprising N24 billion for capital expenditure, N1.6 billion for recurrent expenditure, and N2.7 billion for personnel costs.
The minister expressed concern that the current budget allocation still reflects the structure of the defunct Ministry of Niger Delta Development rather than the broader mandate of addressing the development needs of all six regions in the country.
Despite these limitations, the 2025 budget includes N2 billion for youth and women empowerment and capacity-building programmes, N1 billion for livelihood support initiatives, and N600 million for medical outreach programmes targeting rural communities.
Momoh emphasized the need for judicious application of the limited capital budget, stating that the ministry would prioritize completing ongoing projects and focusing on initiatives with the greatest potential impact. He also stressed the importance of reducing abandoned and uncompleted projects while prioritizing human capital development, job creation, and social protection programs.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Olajide Ipinsagba, described the transformation of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development into the Ministry of Regional Development as a landmark decision by the Federal Government.
Ipinsagba said the broader mandate reflects a commitment to inclusive and sustainable development across all regions while maintaining a focus on addressing the peculiar challenges of the Niger Delta.
“The new ministry serves as a beacon of hope for other regions facing similar development challenges,” Ipinsagba said, adding that the committee would thoroughly review the budget proposals to ensure alignment with the ministry’s expanded mandate.
He urged the ministry to focus on equitable development, economic inclusion, and national unity while commending its leadership for embracing its expanded role with vision and determination.
