Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Obong Ufot Ekaette said at the weekend ended 24 May that his ministry is to embark on “regional mega projects like railways, independent power projects and integrated agricultural schemes that would cut across the region.â€
He conceded that “stakeholders were initially skeptical†because of the failure of the previous interventionist agencies “to deliver even marginal benefits.†Speaking at the briefing of diplomatic mission heads at the Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, he reiterated his administration’s resolve “to bring about a lasting solution to the problems of the region and give the people a new lease of lifeâ€.
The ministry he said has commenced implementation of programmes outlined in the 2009 budget. One of the measures taken to bring about peace, stability and development was to provide jobs for the youths of the Niger Delta region. He explained: “This would include training them so that they could work in the multi-national companies operating in the region and begin to see themselves as co-owners rather than destroy the facilities put in placeâ€.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Chief Ojo Maduekwe noted that the Niger Delta crisis was a national challenge but gave an assurance that the Federal Government was on top of it.
