Youth groups in the oil producing areas of Akwa Ibom State have declared that only decentralisation of the newly created Ministry of Niger Delta would achieve optimum result, while also advising that bureaucracy be reduced in its chain of operations.

They expressed worries because, according to them, previous administrations of such bodies in the region would have done well but for over centralisation and the paucity of fund for the agencies to work with.

While calling on the federal authorities to douse the worries of the people of the region that the ministry was designed to fail, the youths believe that once flexibility in bureaucracy is maintained, so much would be achieved. Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM) explained through its state Chairman, John Usen,that the ministry would serve as a stronger voice for the people of the region because its voice could be heard directly in the hallowed chambers of the Federal Executive chambers.

According to him, "the NDYM is very satisfied with the choice of Chief Uffot Ekaette as minister in charge of the ministry because of his integrity and experience as a technocrat, who has traversed the entire gamut of the public service in Nigeria."

Also, Dr Sammingo Etukapan, who heads another group in Eket Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, said timely release of funds to the ministry would show the Federal Government's commitment to it. He appealed to militants in the region to give government a chance by laying down their arms.

"Militancy is not the problem; neither can it bring the solution. The problem of the Niger Delta is under-development and poor funding of development plans. Let us draw attention of the new ministry to these issues. There will be no development without peace," he said. Also, the Secretary, Eket Youth Leadership Forum, Mr. Maurice Edohoeket ,said it would be better for the ministry if administrative procedures were relaxed for the purposes of solving immediate and pressing demands of the region.

He therefore called for the decentralisation of the ministry's responsibilities and operations to the nine states in the region as means of creating direct contact with the communities that lack easy access to the Federal Government. Decentralisation, he said, would, "help in the execution of necessary projects bordering on the demands of respective states in the region."