Major stakeholders in the Niger Delta have met to curtail the continued militant attacks on Nigeria’s oil facilities in the region.
The stakeholders converged on Delta State, south-south Nigeria to hold an all-inclusive Niger Delta Coastal States Stakeholders’ Consultative meeting to further curtail the recent tension that has gripped the region.
The convener of the meeting and elder statesman, Dr. Edwin Clark, stressed the importance of the meeting.
He said it would enable concerned parties air their views on issues affecting the security of oil and gas facilities in the oil-rich region.
Dr. Clark further stated that efforts to bring the destruction of pipelines to a halt gave rise to the meeting held at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun which was attended by many delegates from different state of the region, including the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
In his remark at the meeting held on Friday, Governor Okowa emphasised the need to work in synergy in the selection of representatives to ensure they speak in one voice at any discussion or dialogue with the Federal Government.
Various participants at the meeting also said it was imperative for the militants to channel their grievances to the government, rather than engaging in the destruction of facilities.
However, they called for the implementation of the recommendations at the last National Conference, the commencement of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko and the adequate funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) among others.
In spite of efforts to stop militants’ activities, two pipelines operated by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) were attacked by suspected militants on Friday.
The attacks were said to have occurred in Owhrode community which was about 20 kilometres from the venue of the stakeholders’ meeting.
A technical team of the NPDC and security officials have been deployed to the area to prevent the spread of crude to other communities.
