Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday reiterated the Federal Government�s commitment and political will to early resolution of the Niger Delta crisis.
Jonathan gave the assurance when he received a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South-south Zone in the State House, Abuja.
He said the level of commitment of the President Umaru Musa Yar�Adua�s administration was already evident in his determination to implement the Niger Delta Master-plan.
�The President has shown a lot of political will and commitment to implement the Niger Delta master plan. As soon as the implementation of the plan commences, peace will surely return to the area,� he said, adding that government has been holding weekly meeting on the Niger Delta problem, to ensure that the pockets of violence in the area are contained, to allow for the return of business activities and good investment climate.
Jonathan assured the delegation that the Port Harcourt Airport would soon be on steam, as the contractor handling its upgrading has returned to site.
Earlier, leader of the delegation, Apostle Geoffrey Dabibi Numbere, said they were in the State House to congratulate the President and Jonathan for their victory at the polls and to express happiness over the cordial relationship between them. He urged that the cordial relations be sustained in the interest of the country.
While pledging the support of the Church in the ongoing peace effort in the area by government, Numbere noted the decline in youth restiveness in theNiger Delta since the intervention of the Vice President in the crises, suggesting that more steps be taken by the government to resolve the crisis, through the provision of portable water, good roads and the early completion of the Port Harcourt International Airport.