FG Scraps Niger Delta, Sports Ministries, Merges Culture, Tourism Ministries
By Matthew Eloyi
In a major shake-up of Nigeria’s ministerial landscape, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday announced the dissolution of the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development. The move is part of a broader restructuring aimed at streamlining government operations and fostering greater efficiency.
Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, revealed the details in a statement, highlighting significant changes to how regional development and sports administration will now be handled.
“There will now be a Ministry of Regional Development to oversee all the regional development commissions, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North East Development Commission (NEDC), North West Development Commission, and the South West Development Commission,” Onanuga said.
This consolidation means that all regional commissions, which were previously under separate ministries, will now report to the newly formed Ministry of Regional Development. The move is seen as an effort to streamline regional governance and ensure a more cohesive approach to addressing developmental challenges across Nigeria’s regions.
In addition, the role of the Ministry of Sports will be taken over by the re-established National Sports Commission. Onanuga explained that this change is aimed at better focusing Nigeria’s sports development efforts under a specialized body, signaling a return to the model used in previous administrations, where sports were managed by a commission rather than a full ministry.
Another significant change approved at the FEC meeting was the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy. This merger is designed to create synergies between tourism, cultural promotion, and Nigeria’s burgeoning creative industry, which has gained international recognition in recent years.
“These decisions were taken today at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council in Abuja,” Onanuga confirmed in the statement.
The scrapping of the Ministry of Niger Delta is likely to spark debate, particularly in a region where developmental issues remain pressing. However, the government’s position is that placing the Niger Delta Development Commission under a broader ministry will allow for a more coordinated effort across all regions in Nigeria.
For the sports sector, the revival of the National Sports Commission is expected to bring renewed focus on athletic development and international competitiveness, particularly as Nigeria gears up for upcoming global sporting events.
The FEC’s decisions mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s governance structure, one that will reshape how regional and sports development policies are crafted and implemented going forward.
