| President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday reassured the international community that the Federal Government is fully prepared and able to provide adequate security for oil workers and installations in the Niger Delta, and ensure speedy release of hostages. In the same vein, President of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo, has thanked President Obasanjo for the �safe and swift release� of the 24 Filipino seamen recently taken hostage by militants off the coast of Warri, Delta State . In a letter to Obasanjo from Malacanan Palace in Manila, Arroyo conveyed �deep gratitude and appreciation to the president and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the safe and swift release of the 24 Filipino seafarers held in Warri, Niger Delta.� He also thanked Obasanjo for his keen interest and demonstrated commitment to secure the freedom, safety and well-being of the 24 Filipino nationals. Obasanjo had, while reassuring the international community on safety of oil workers during a meeting with the Italian Prime Minister, Mr Romano Prodi, said the Federal Government was taking effective steps to ensure that all oil workers still held hostage in the region are freed unharmed. �We will spare no effort to ensure that they are all released expeditiously,� Obasanjo assured Prodi, adding that the diligent implementation of Niger Delta developmental programmes initiated by his administration will help to curb much of the |
Mar142007