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Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has asked traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the Niger Delta to find a lasting solution to the incidents of pipeline vandalism and general insecurity in the region.
At a meeting between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and executive of the Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities (TROMCON) in Port Harcourt, President Buhari directed the NDDC to quickly intervene and explore every avenue that would help bring back peace and stability to the region.
It was a consultation and negotiation meeting, one that was seen as very necessary to ensure there are no further acts of vandalism and criminality in the Niger Delta region.
At the meeting, the NDDC Acting Managing Director (MD), Mrs Ibim Semenitari, appealed to the traditional rulers, led by Eze Akuwueze Ikegwuruka, the paramount ruler of Ngbirichi in Imo State and the National Chairman of TROMPCON, to engage in serious sensitisation of their subjects against oil theft, vandalism and other acts that could cause a breach of security.
She tasked the royal fathers on engaging in five critical areas and promise to support TROMPCON, as critical partners, in its activities and in the commission’s efforts to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta, where Nigeria’ major source of revenue, crude oil, is mined.
The National Chairman of TROMPCON, Eze Ikegwuruka, assured Mrs Semenitari that the traditional rulers in the region were ready for partnership and collaboration with the NDDC, pointing out that TROMPCON had been longing to join hands with the NDDC and other development agencies.
He reaffirmed their stake in the affairs of the Niger Delta.
It is the view of TROMPCOM that all stakeholders as well as service providers should collaborate to ensure coordinated and accelerated development of the Niger Delta region. This imperative has been underscored in the Niger Delta Regional Development Master Plan which provided for Partners for Sustainable Development (PSD) Forum,” Eze Ikegwuruka stressed.
He said that TROMPCON would do whatever was necessary to ensure the maintenance of peace and provide the conducive environment for the NDDC and other agencies of development, including contractors.
He further said that the royal fathers would visit the National Assembly to discuss the NDDC budget and rub minds with them to see how to provide more employment opportunities and avoid a situation where contracts were hijacked to the detriment of the people of the Niger Delta.
TROMPCON is currently in court with the Federal Government to press home the demand for proper funding of the NDDC in line with the commission’s enabling law.
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