The Federal Government yesterday handed the leaders and youths of the Niger Delta region a condition that may lead to the permanent withdrawal of soldiers from creeks and waterways of the region, declaring that they must show genuine commitment to peace in the region.
Speaking on Thursday during a visit to the site of the multi-million naira Brass Liquefied Natural Gas Project in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, said the leaders and the youths of the region were showing signs of meeting the set conditions for total withdrawal of soldiers.
Jonathan, who was accompanied on the tour by the Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Mohammed Barkindo, said it was not the intention of the Federal Government to keep soldiers permanently in the Niger Delta, but the situation had become inevitable because of the security situation in the area.
“No government is ready to keep soldiers anywhere. They were not here before. We want peace so that soldiers will stop patrolling the creeks,” he said.
The vice president called on the youths of the region to embrace peace and protect projects sited in the region as the benefits would only come to the people.” You don’t destroy what you have. The oil industry is for all, although it is domiciled in your territory,”
He expressed the commitment of the President Yar’Adua administration to the realisation of the Brass Liquefied Natural Gas project located in Brass Bayelsa State.”The level of work he had seen on the ground was a guarantee that the project which was initiated in 2001 would come to reality .President Umaru YarAdua is committed to the successful implementation which was a major aspect of the Seven Point Agenda, particularly the development of the oil rich Niger Delta. When the president became aware that there had been some delay with the project, he gave approval to eliminate without delay.”