A 15-point development agenda was presented to the federal government by some oil producing communities in nine states urging the government to address the challenges confronting them in the Niger Delta region. It include an oil city, addressing the problem of oil pollution, immediate commencement of work at oil spill re-mediation sites, passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), and the setting up of a petroleum industrial tribunal, among others.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru, the Chairman, Association of Community Leaders of Nine Oil Producing States, Mr. Ishmmael Frank Oputu, said the association has been contributing towards peaceful existence in the Niger Delta and about 60 per cent of peace in the region created by it.
Uguru responded to the agenda saying the federal government did not abandon the East-West Road, adding that a total of N286 billion of the N560 billion estimated to complete it had so far been paid to the contractors. He reassured the people of the Niger Delta region that the ongoing projects will be fully executed.
He also commented on the issue of vandalism in the state, saying, “On this pipeline vandalisation, we hope that as we are working on the framework, it will get to a point where we will involve the community leaders and the communities, and probably associations. We will have the reason t invite you and discuss together.
“I want to point at something; you are aware that in the North-east, we hear hunters rose up to the occasion to defend their communities against Boko Haram insurgents. And they are doing quite well,” calling the people of the Niger Delta region to adopt such positive attitudes.
