How to end Niger Delta crisis, by British envoy

Dewar also urged the current federal administration to move into the oil-rich but crisis-torn region and develop its infrastructure, stressing that this and good governance would check upheaval in the area.

The envoy, who spoke in Abuja during a visit to the Minister of Information and Communications, Dora Akunyili, observed that the Niger Delta people had not benefited from revenues accruing from oil and gas taken from the region over the years.

Specifically, he asked the Federal Government to provide good education, health care, employment and development projects in the region, stressing that these would go a long way in ending youth restiveness in the area.

His words: “The Niger Delta people have not benefited from the oil and gas revenue. It is very important that the people in this country should enjoy the benefits of the revenue from oil in the form of education and infrastructure.”

The envoy assured that Britain would support the Federal Government to overcome its challenges in Niger Delta.

On negative reportage of Africa by the Western media, the British High Commissioner said: “When there is any incident, it will be reported by the international press and anytime there is a positive event it will also be reported.”

He enjoined Nigerian government officials to be more open to the media, saying this would help government to give its own side of the story.

Responding, Akunyili said President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was committed to providing physical infrastructure and improve security in Nigeria to encourage more investors to come into the country.

Akunyili, who solicited the support of the British government in the re-brand Nigeria campaign, said: “We are committed to re-branding Nigeria and we look forward to getting support from you, especially in the area of advice. This will help in convincing the world that Nigerians are not all fraudsters and criminals. It is not a country that nothing works; you are here and you can see that certain things are working.”