‘N’Delta Deserves Special Attention’

Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has identified the Niger Delta as a region with special needs that require special attention, and urged the Federal Government not to leave any stone unturned in ensuring that the problems of the area are resolved.
Governor Amaechi, who was speaking when officials of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs led by the Minister, Chief Ufot Ekaette, visited him at Government House, Port Harcourt, noted that the difficult terrain in the Niger Delta communities was posing a serious problem to the development of the area.
The governor, represented by his Deputy, Engr. Tele Ikuru, said it was more expensive to construct roads in Rivers State and other parts of the region and charged the Ministry to give maximum attention to issues concerning the region’s development.
Appreciating President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s magnanimity in extending amnesty to Niger Delta militants and helping to bring peace and security to Rivers State, the state chief executive identified the security of lives and property as the primary responsibility of any government, pointing out that his government would not fold its arms and allow people to hide under the cloak of resource control to commit crimes.
“We must not allow those who hide under the agitation for resource control and carry out criminal activities. We have done a lot to cage them and we thank the President for his assistance in caging the criminals who call themselves militants,” he said.
Earlier, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaette, accompanied by his Minister of State, Elder Godsday Orubebe, had said his delegation was in the State to assess the implementation of the Amnesty programme.
Explaining that the ministry was responsible for the reintegration phase of the Amnesty programme which is fundamental to the process, Chief Ekaette said the cooperation of the Rivers State Government was crucial for the success of the programme, adding that the ministry was determined to partner with States and local governments in achieving its set goals.