Following threats of kidnapping of its staff and the deteriorating security situation in the Niger Delta, construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, has decided to move out of the region completely and immediately.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan disclosed this at the occasion of the inauguration of the �State Council on Social Development,� in Yenagoa yesterday.
Jonathan said the decision of the compay is informed by the increase rate of kidnapping and particularly the recent kidnap of a German citizen in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, by militants.
The Governor warned that in view of this and the consequence of it to the development of the region, government has decided to take drastic measures against the militants. �We cannot continue to be taking people, contractors that are working for us hostage, this must stop�.He warned.
Jonathan was particularly hard on community leaders who continue to harbour known militants by creating a safe haven instead of exposing them.
Said he: �Any community that encourages these criminal tendencies must be ready, as government will invade them. So if you are encouraging this kidnapping, because when we talk about Kaiama Declaration, everybody knew that the people had focus. They did not just go and hold contractors or kidnapped white men who are working�
His made it clear that kidnapping oil workers is not part of the Niger Delta struggle hence, �those communities too must be ready to be invaded, we will send the Navy. If the community is about 500 people, we will send 500 naval personnel to stay with them; I think they will be comfortable having them�.
�What is happening in the state and the Niger Delta region is another way of the youths telling those of us who are over seeing the activities of state not to think about development�, he lamented.
Jonathan also stressed: �If the youths don�t want development they should tell us so that at the end of the months we share the money and go to sleep because a situation where companies working , Julius Berger is working, then youths will go and kidnap staff of the those working for us is regrettable.�
�In Port Harcourt they have kidnapped a German, only yesterday one of the management told me two of their people have resigned. Today I got a call from Abuja that Julius Berger is pulling out of Bayelsa and Rivers� the governor lamented.
He disclosed that already the company was to handle the East-West road dualisation from the Port Harcourt to Kaiama in the state, �but now that they are pulling out, your road is going to continue to remain bad� he told the people.
Aug112006