Nigeria
Gives Assurance Of Sustainable Peace In Niger Delta
Nigeria’s Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed the
hope that sustainable peace will return to the Niger Delta
region within the next six months.
Jonathan's optimism was based on the level of “wide support the
government's on-going dialogue with stakeholders in the area is
receiving.”
He told a team of Action Aid Nigeria, who paid him a visit that
the administration would partner with reputable organisations in
setting developmental agenda for the area.
In his words, “in the next six months, the Niger Delta will
return to the good old days, where security is guaranteed.”
Good
Governance
Jonathan also said good governance was vital to the restoration
of peace and development to the region, explaining that the
government would plough back resources from the region into
areas that would engender sustainable development.
This, he said, would not only address the injustices of the past
but also attract investments that would impact positively on the
people.
The Vice-President said by eradicating poverty and addressing
the injustices in the area, genuine peace would be restored.
Private Support
Action Aid Country Director, Otive Igbuzor had informed the vice
president of the organisation’s plans to collaborate with the
people of the Niger Delta region, towards articulating a
development blue print for the region.
He said the document, to be tagged, “Niger Delta Peoples
Compact,” would define the collective position of the people on
their desired goals.
Igbuzor urged the government to adopt the final report of the
dialogue as part of its development plans for the region.
Action Aid is currently involved in conflict resolution and
poverty reduction programmes in five local government areas
across Nigeria.
NAN/QA/MIA
