A former Acting National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Yekini Nabena, has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider relocating key government agencies to specific regions in Nigeria. Nabena proposed moving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to the Niger Delta, along with the relocation of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to the same region. He also suggested shifting the Ministries of Solid Minerals and Mines and Steel to Kogi state.
Additionally, Nabena called for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to be moved to Benue State, where agricultural produce is abundant. He justified these proposals by referencing the recent plans to move part of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to Lagos State for efficiency, a decision that has sparked debates.
Nabena raised concerns about President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to national unity, citing an interview from 1997 in which Tinubu reportedly expressed skepticism about the concept of “one Nigeria.” He called on the presidency to clarify the real reasons behind the relocation plans for CBN and FAAN, emphasizing that federal agencies symbolize Nigerian unity and should not be subjected to political considerations.
The APC chieftain argued that if efficiency is the primary reason for relocating agencies, then the NNPCL, NIMASA, NPA, and others would be more effective in the Niger Delta region. He further suggested specific states for the relocation of other ministries based on economic activities and resources.
Nabena also highlighted the ongoing debate in the Nigerian Senate about urging International Oil Companies (IOCs) to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta to spur economic development in host communities. He accused powerful interests in Lagos of hindering this move for their own gains.
Expressing shock over the silence of the National Assembly on certain developments, Nabena specifically mentioned the Betta Edu scandal and demanded transparency regarding the source of money and bags of rice distributed during the Christmas period. He urged the 10th Assembly leadership to provide clarity on these matters and keep the public informed.