The American government has expressed concern and interest on what the future holds for the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and the impacts 2015 will create, especially on security issues
The Consul General of United States Consulate in Lagos, Mr Jeffrey Hawkins stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to Bayelsa State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson in Government House, Yenagoa.
Hawkins said, that in view of the economic importance of the region, his home country wants first hand information in areas such as security and governance of the people.
He expressed optimism that with different blueprints of development on the ground, Bayelsa would surmount its development hurdles that could also take care of present security challenges.
In his response, Hon. Dickson regretted that there  were a lot of stereotype and negative reportage of issues concerning the country, particularly the Niger Delta region that were not in conformity with realities on ground.
He therefore requested the United States government to reconsider its stance on the travel advisory, noting that his administration was sparing no effort in creating a congenial business climate for investors in Bayelsa State.
Hon. Dickson explained that one of such efforts was the establishment of the Bayelsa Development and Investment Corporation (BDIC) with its African regional office in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Bayelsa is safe and ready for business. At the business level, we have established the BDIC which African regional office I went to open last week in Johannesburg. We intend to do similar things in other critical economies of the world because we want to be on ground to be able to tell our own story. The truth is that we cannot move our economy or attract investment to create wealth and develop skills that will turn around the economy and break the vicious cycle of poverty, illiteracy, unemployment and un-employability.”
However, the United Kingdom and United State have indicated interest to assist Nigeria curb the menace of crude oil theft which President Goodluck Jonathan has described as “blood oil’’.
The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, made the announcement at a lecture entitled “The Future of African Energy in a Changing World’’, delivered on Sunday at St. Anthony’s College in Oxford University, England.
“I must say that both the British and U.S. Governments have been in discussions with us and are keen to join hands with us to fight this menace.
“The global community is on track and already geared up and we are working to put in place a strategic platform that will involve us all and enable us track and fingerprint stolen crude,’’ Alison-Madueke said.
She said that crude oil theft and vandalism were being executed on a professional scale beyond petty stealing.
“It is, therefore, clear that this crude is being taken to refineries outside the shores of West Africa.’’
According to her, proceeds from stolen crude, are being passed through fiscal institutions beyond the African continent and the monies are laundered by fiscal entities.
“It has therefore, become necessary to tackle the issue globally as it is carried out by powerful cabals and experts.’’
The minister said that governments in the Niger Delta were collaborating with service chiefs to sensitise the affected communities on the dangers of illegal refineries on the environment.
She said that illegal refineries, popularly known as “firewood distilleries,’’ had severe impact on the environment and human beings, especially because of the risk of disabilities in new born babies.
Other issues addressed by Alison-Madueke include the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and global politics of oil where she stressed the need to give emerging economies more support.
“It is better to invest in these economies, import their gas and oil rather than give out charity and donations to them.
“Basically if Africa itself is not stable and if it’s teeming youth population are not gainfully employed, then they obviously pose an inherent threat to global security and stability in the world,’’ she said.
Mrs Cherie Blair, wife of UK’s former Prime Minister Tony Blair in an interview with newsmen commended Alison-Madueke for her detailed lecture on the oil sector in Nigeria.
Blair said the PIB as explained by the minister, when passed into law, would be beneficial to companies with investments in the sector and crucial to Nigerians.
The lecture attracted experts from the oil and gas sector, including a former Ghanaian President, Mr John Kufour.