Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday said that the Federal Government had made appreciable progress in securing the understanding of leaders in the Niger Delta.
The Vice-President said this at a meeting with a delegation from ENI, the parent company of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company, in the State House.
Jonathan said this in response to the oil company�s plea for the Federal Government�s intervention in the region.
He explained that a series of meetings organised with the Niger Delta leaders by the current administration had recorded some positive impact.
He noted that several talks had also been held with the stakeholders in the area to ensure that such meetings have far reaching effect in resolving the crises.
The Vice-President further noted that the Federal Government would also tackle the security situation in Lagos State in order to provide the enabling environment desired by investors.
�We will ensure that security situation in the Niger Delta area is improved soon, even Lagos State security situation will be looked into, so that business and investment can thrive and people can sleep safely at night�, he said.
The Vice-President also condemned the recent kidnapping of a three-year old British girl in Port Harcourt.
He described the incident as �shocking act perpetrated by one of the cult groups that operate in the Niger Delta�.
He therefore urged all well-meaning members of the society, including Niger Delta indigenes, to condemn the act.
Jonathan explained that his major assignment in the first six months of the new administration was to stabilise the Niger Delta.
He also noted that the Federal Government would be coordinating the activities of all the Niger Delta governments, the Niger Delta Development Commission, the oil companies and other relevant bodies in its efforts to solve all related crises in the area.
He explained that this was to eliminate the lack of coordination which prevailed in development efforts of the past, a situation which made it difficult to solve the hostage-taking crisis and other related matters.