Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Elder Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday
President Goodluck Jonathan has described his administration as “considerable to the consolidation of sustenance of the current security situation in the Niger Delta region in order to deepen the foundations of durable and mutually beneficial peace.”
President Jonathan, who was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, spoke at the inauguration of the National Council on Niger Delta Affairs, held at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Experts, technocrats, including serving governors, traditional rulers, civil society members were among others who gathered to deliberate on pertinent issues bothering on the security and development facing the region.
Top on the deliberation was the consideration of implementation of the Niger Delta Action Plan by this administration, to compliment the specific commitments contained in the Amnesty Programme.
According to the President, the Action Plan, he believes, will be of great relevance and will serve as a coherent programme for investments in the social and infrastructure sectors of the various communities of the region, thereby encouraging participation.
For this to be achieved, he called for active support and collaboration of major stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, development partners, states, communities and specialized interest groups in the region to partner for a new reinforced phase of effective development in the Niger Delta.
Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, disclosed that the people of the Niger Delta region had in the past been relegated to the background in terms of development in the midst of abundant human and natural resources.
Akpabio advocated for the non-inclusion of the Niger Delta Development Commission as a parastatal under the Ministry, noting that the region deserves an agency solely headed by its people.
Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and his Delta State counterpart, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, as well as the Secretary to the Cross River State government, Mike Aniah, were present at the ceremony.
Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (left) and Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry Uninifrom right; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Elder Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry Uninifrom right; Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Elder Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry Uninifrom right; Arc. Darius Dickson Ishaku, Minister of State, Minister of Niger Delta, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Elder Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry UniniThe representative of Mr. President, Vice President Namadi Sambo inspecting guard of honor mounted by the detachment of Nigerian Army at the airport reception during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry UniniThe representative of Mr. President, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry UniniThe representative of Mr. President, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry UniniCross section of participants during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry UniniCross section of Royal fathers during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry Uninifrom left;Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Elder Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta , during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry Uninifrom left; Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, representative of Mr. President, Vice President Namadi Sambo and Elder Godsday Orubebe, Minister of Niger Delta , during the inauguration of the National Council of Niger Delta held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Friday. Photo: Henry Unini
