Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has drummed up support for a criminal investigation into the activities of oil majors in Nigeria to pinpoint exactly how much damage they have done to the nation’s economy through oil spillages in the Niger Delta over the years.
The governor explained that he wanted to do this in a bid to make oil companies more responsible just as BP (British Petroleum) is being made to take responsibility for its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Uduaghan was speaking at a reception that was organised for President Goodluck Jonathan as part of his one-day official visit to the state.
He went further and explained that the extent of damage to the environment and the socio-economic development in the Niger-Delta needed to be determined in order to right things as well. He also appealed to the oil companies operating in Nigeria to be more responsible and show great sense of commitment to the development of the country, urging them to learn from the recent oil spill at the Gulf of Mexico and adding that the dream to change the face of Delta State is a collective effort of all concerned.
Uduaghan also further reiterated his administration’s commitment to its electoral promise to promote peace security, infrastructural and human capital development.
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has again said his administration was committed to the socio-economic development of the Niger-Delta region with a view to making it more competitive in the global socio-political and economic scheme of things.
“Let me assure you that I am irrevocably committed to the development of the Niger-Delta. We must develop the region to restore confidence and hope among our people and children. To this end, let me assure you that the Niger-Delta Master Plan for development is on course and we will assist the NDDC and all the state governments.
“Since the beginning of the amnesty programme to this time, the state has been very stable and this is the beginning of development. Myself and all the governors from the region are working together. We hold meetings every month now, to ensure that we are on the same page because we can no longer allow the area to continue to lag behind. Whatever the government needs to do, we must all collectively do it, so that our children will no longer need to carry weapons to demand for development. The Delta State governor has started very well and we will encourage him to succeed.”
Jonathan further canvassed for the diversification of the Nigerian economy. Saying: “Its a task that must be carried out by all of us. I am happy that Delta State is taking a leading position in that direction.”