Niger Deltans are not troublesome – Uduaghan

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Thursday in Warri said that the people of the Niger Delta are not trouble makers.
Defending the people of the region when the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s Office Annex, Warri, Uduaghan stated that Niger Deltans are not trouble makers but only agitating for a fair deal from the Nigerian state.
He then solicited for the understanding of other regions for the legitimate agitation for the cause of the Niger Delta.
He said: “We must plan so that we can succeed in whatever we want to do.
“I want to sincerely thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his commitment to the completion of the East-West Road and as a minister, I want to urge you to put more efforts on the East West Road.”
While advising Orubebe to always let people know what he is doing on the road, the governor added: “I want our brothers and sisters from other parts of the country to know that we are not trouble makers in Niger Delta region, but only asking for a better treatment.”
Uduaghan promised the minister full co-operation and security support in all its working sites within the region and to participate in the forthcoming summit in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Earlier in his presentation, Orubebe intimated Uduaghan of the Niger Delta Action Plan, which is a developmental programme for the Niger Delta region.
Orubebe stated that the aim behind the initiation of the programme was to organize a summit within the Niger Delta region to discuss the issues as it affects the Niger Delta.
According to the minister: “As a ministry, we have worked out a document called the Niger Delta Action Plan, where a summit would be held once in a year to discuss issues of yesterday and today as it affects Niger Delta.
“I am glad to inform you too that the Federal Government has approved the constitution of a National Council in this regard, for which the first summit meeting comes up April this year at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.”
Orubebe further said that of the 42 bridges earmarked for the construction of the East-West Road, 37 had been completed while 750 of the 786 culverts had also been built.
He assured that the East-West Road will be completed by December 2014, adding: “We need inputs from all the governors in the Niger Delta region.
“The East-West Road will completed in December 2014.
“We now have funds that will complete the road.
“President Jonathan is committed to the completion of the East-West Road.
“We need to work together to move the Niger Delta forward.
“We cannot do it alone.”
In addition, Orubebe disclosed that he was determined to construct the East-West Railway as well as the Coastal road leading to Lagos.