Minister of Niger Delta Development, Engr Abubakar Momoh, has visited the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, and an Ijaw leader, Alhaji Asari Dokubo, to bolster regional collaboration and address critical issues facing the region.
These engagements, according to a statement from the office of the Minister, are aimed at harnessing their collective expertise with a strong focus on combatting crude oil theft, improving infrastructure, and fostering economic opportunities for the region’s youth.
The statement read, “This initiative aligns with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, as the Minister seeks to drive positive change and development in this vital area of Nigeria”.
“On Tuesday, the former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, hosted the Minister at his residence in Abuja. They engaged in valuable and insightful discussions, focusing on strategies to combat crude oil theft, improve infrastructure, and create employment opportunities for the youth in the Niger Delta region.
“Accompanying the Minister was the ex-president’s former Chief of Staff and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Oghiadohme.
“Momoh commended former President Jonathan for sharing his wealth of experience for the betterment of the Niger Delta region. He also expressed appreciation for the wisdom and generosity of His Excellency, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, for taking the time to provide guidance and insights during the meeting. His commitment to the development of Nigeria, especially in the Niger Delta region, is truly commendable.
“Momoh further commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his support and mentorship in addressing critical challenges and advancing the nation’s development.”
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It noted that to expand his consultations with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, the Minister also met with Alhaji Asari-Dokubo, a prominent figure in the Ijaw ethnic group. The primary topics of discussion included regional peace and strategies to combat crude oil theft, which has been detrimental to Nigeria’s oil production.
Dokubo, a significant political figure, provided valuable advice and expressed his commitment to supporting the Minister in his role.
“Momoh conveyed his sincere gratitude to Alhaji Asari-Dokubo for his warm welcome and valuable insights during the meeting. He emphasized the importance of such support as they work towards a brighter future for the Niger Delta region and the entire Federal Republic of Nigeria,” it added.
The statement quoted Dokubo to have described the Minister as a sincere personality who would be dedicated to addressing infrastructural deficits in the Niger Delta.
He, therefore, called on Niger Deltans to support the Minister and prevent obstacles that could derail the Ministry’s development plan.
Dokubo also urged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to take action to recover the ₦600bn wrongly allocated to unrelated projects, emphasising the need to redirect these funds to projects benefiting the Niger Delta Region.
He vowed to pursue justice against those who misappropriated funds meant for development in the region.
