Follow @9jaLife President Goodluck Jonathan has described his administration as "considerable to the consolidation of sustenance of the current security situation in the Niger Delta region in order to deepen the foundations of durable and mutually beneficial peace". President Jonathan, who was represented by his Vice President Namadi Sambo, was speaking at the inauguration of the National Council on Niger Delta, held at Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State Capital. Experts, technocrats including serving governors, traditional rulers, civil society members were among others who gathered to deliberate on pertinent issues bothering on the security and development facing the region. Top on the deliberations was the consideration of implementation of the Niger Delta Action Plan by this administration, to compliment the specific commitments contained in the Amnesty Programme. According to the President, the Action Plan he believes will be of great relevance and will serve as a coherent programme for investments in the social and infrastructure sectors of the Various Communities of the region, thereby encouraging participation. For this to be achieved, he called for active support and collaboration of major stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, development partners, states, communities and specialized interest groups in the region to partner for a new reinforced phase of effective development in the Niger Delta. Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio disclosed that the people of the Niger Delta region have in the past been relegated to the background in terms of development in the midst of abundant human and natural resources. He advocated for the non-inclusion of the Niger Delta Development Commission as a parastatal under the Ministry, noting that the region deserves an agency solely headed by its people. The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs; Godsday Orubebe who added his Voice to the Action plan assured of the ministry's determination to put into action the recommendations of the Action plan to break the Ministry's enduring Poverty. Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and his Delta State counterpart, Emmanuel Uduaghan as well as the Secretary to the Cross River State government, Mike Aniah were present at the ceremony. Source Follow @9jaLife
