THE United States of America has urged the Federal Government to ensure that it continues to adopt dialogue in settling the crisis in the Niger Delta.
This is coming as Britain reminded the government that transparency and accountability were crucial to good governance and development and urged it to use the findings of the second audit undertaken by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which dealt on the financial, process and physical audit of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector in 2005 to take action and introduce further transparency and accountability measures in governance.
A statement issued by the US Embassy, in Abuja, and obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, stated that there was the need for government to ensure that restraint was exercised during “this delicate period,” including resolving any outstanding amnesty issues.
The statement noted that taking the steps would ensure that peace is fully achieved in the Niger Delta region, even as efforts were being made to develop a comprehensive framework that would address the legitimate concerns of the people of the region.
The US statement reads, “We note the efforts to date to advance dialogue in the Niger Delta. We hope that these efforts will continue and that restraint is exercised during this ‘delicate period,’ including resolving any outstanding amnesty issues in order to realise peace and develop a comprehensive framework that will address the legitimate concerns of the people of the region”
The UK government recalled that it had provided about £3 million to the NEITI since it was established while Nigeria was the first country to pass legislation under the global EITI in 2006.
The statement quoted the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bob Dewar, as having said that the NEITI audit had raised several issues which needed to be addressed.