Prosecute illegal oil bunkerers, pipeline vandals, Uduaghan tells FG

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has called for the prosecution of all those arrested for illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation so as to serve as deterrent to others and enhance the work of the security agencies.
Governor Uduaghan, who stated this over the weekend in Asaba, the Delta State capital, when he hosted a State Reception in honour of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Joseph Ezeoba, said that the twin evils of illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalisation have become a drain on the economy of the nation and there was the need to tackle the problem headlong.
According to him: “Pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering are the major challenges facing the Naval service in the Niger Delta and it is of great concern to all of us as the economy is going down the drain.
“There is need to prosecute all those that have been arrested for illegal bunkering to act as deterrent to others and enhance the work of our security services.”
Uduaghan explained that the “Delta Beyond Oil” vision was borne out of the fact that with these illegal activities in the oil sector, the state needed to look beyond the oil revenues and diversify its economy to other sectors and utilise its other economic potentials.
He said “Delta State is working on its vision of Delta Beyond Oil to attract major investments to the state, create jobs for its teeming youths and empower the needy, widows, youths and women through its small and medium scale micro-credit scheme.”
While commending the unity and cordial relationship among the heads of  the various security agencies in the country, Governor Uduaghan appealed for synergy among them at the state level to meet the security challenges in the state and for the betterment of the country.
He acknowledged the patriotic zeal of Nigerians and called on the leaders to tap into this zeal to carry out development in the society and make the country a better place.
Governor Uduaghan commended President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the appointment of Ezeoba as the Chief of Naval Staff and sought for the appointment of more Deltans into positions of prominence.
In a brief remark, the Chairman of the occasion and former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Dan Preston Omatsola, called for ethical re-orientation in the country, especially among the youths.
Omatsola admonished the leaders of the country to always put national interests above personal or tribal interests.
He said: “God would not come down to build a nation. Human beings, who are attuned with God, will build the nation. Leadership calls for honest people with philosophical bend to lead the nation aright. Leaders should put the national interests above their personal or premordial interests for development to take place in the country.”
Responding, Ezeoba thanked President Jonathan for appointing him to the position and urged officers and men of the service to continue to meet the challenges and goals posed by their work and ensure the maintenance of the present achievements attained by the service.
He commended the leadership qualities and developmental strides of Uduaghan, describing him as “a man of dexterity, uncommon character, largely misunderstood who has brought his leadership acumen to bear in the development of the state.”
While expressing his support for the success of the “Delta Beyond Oil” vision, Ezeoba called on all Deltans to support the initiative to enable the state develop its other revenue potentials.