Following threats by Niger Delta Avengers to resume hostilities, the federal government has appealed to the group to be patient as efforts are made to meet their demands.
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Usani Usani, made the appeal while speaking with State House reporters after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday.
He observed that the issues brought up by agitators are germane to the development of the region, adding that the president has directed action towards resolving them.
He said: “The government of which I am part, my role as minister in charge of the region, we have been appealing with them to just be patient with us because, most of the time, the issues that are brought up are those that tend to portray the quest for development of the region.
“And that is all we have been doing, to say, a patient with us. These issues raised genuinely to the benefits of people of the region are being attended to.
“For instance, the Okerekenko University. You are aware that the Vice President has directed that that University must take off. And he also directed that a minimum of N5billion be budgeted for the take off the University.
“So, it’s a matter of patience knowing that some of these things have a procedure. So, it will not be because it did not happen the way they wanted so it will not happen. Everything has a phase of planning and a phase of execution.”
The minister said that it is not true that government has failed to fulfil its promises to the area citing the case of a University as an example.
According to him, “they are also on because the process of building a refinery or even getting the necessary procedures to establish such is not just a one day business.
“Advertisements have been made, people have indicated interest and of course, to get it sustainable, the government is having the state governments involved but privately driven so that all concerned will be on a common page to be able to be sure that whenever it takes off, there is no frustration or sabotage.”
He said the government is prepared to meet with any group which shows a willingness to discuss .
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