Harrison Edeh & Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja.
Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, on Monday announced that stabilising the Niger-Delta remains a key priority to the Buhari administration.
Kachikwu, at the ongoing sustainability in the extractive industries conference in Abuja, listed seven key priority areas that government is focusing on in the region, geared towards ensuring long-lasting stability in the Niger-Delta region.
Kachkwu listed the projects as including deploying the Niger Delta Development Programme; pursuing regular engagement in the Niger-Delta; implementing the modular refinery initiative, implementing community-based pipeline framework and elevating Nigeria’s gas flare commercialisation programme.
Kachikwu who was represented by Isa Baba, director for oil services, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, said ,”Conflict in some instances can be attributed to scarcity of developmental projects in the areas, adding that the Niger Delta development is targetted at ensuring the realisation of such projects.”
He pointed out that projects targeted at improving the standard of living in these areas would be monitored thus fostering completion, stressing that unemployment and under-development were the issues causing conflict, as people were more likely to be restless in those circumstances.
