President Buhari have assures Barack Obama that Niger Delta problem will be solve soon

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday assured Barack Obama, the American President Nigeria is making steady progress towards resolving the problem in the Niger Delta region which has led to economic sabotage on a grand scale.


During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 71st edition of the UN General Assembly, holding in New York, President Buhari disclosed:

"We are making definite progress on how many factions of the militant groups exist, their leadership and operational basis, and we have equally sought the cooperation of the oil majors. In a short while, I believe the issues would be resolved."

While thanking America for help rendered in the area of security through provision of armaments, training for Nigerian troops, and sharing of intelligence, which has led to the degradation of Boko Haram in the North East, President Buhari said the country was open to support in combating the humanitarian crisis currently ravaging the region.

The President said the farming season was good this year, with the prospect of good harvest, and "Nigeria is on the road to food self-sufficiency soon. We shall be able to feed ourselves, and utilize the billions of dollars spent on importing food on other productive areas."

President Buhari reiterated that his administration came to power on the tripod promises of security, battle against corruption, and revamping of the economy, stressing that there would be no let-up in fulfilling those electoral promises.

He wished President Obama a happy retirement, as he winds down gradually on his tenure in office.
Responding, the American President described President Buhari as a man of "integrity and honesty," saying: "We have confidence in your leadership. There are some difficulties you face, but this administration is willing to assist in the short time we have left. You have made real progress in defeating the brutal organization called Boko Haram, and that was achieved because of your leadership."

President Obama offered a hand of fellowship to Nigeria "in the final and comprehensive defeat of Boko Haram, resolution of the Niger Delta crisis, which would help ramp up oil production and increase revenue, resolving the humanitarian crisis in the North East, recovering stolen money, and revamping the economy."

Describing Nigeria as a big and important country in sub-Saharan Africa, the American President said his country looked forward to a framework for sustained partnership between the two nations.

FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)

Military has send a warns signal to Niger Delta militant groups

This is a statement issued by Rabe Abubakar, Brigadier General, Acting Director Defence Information:


The Defence Headquarters wishes to alert the general public of the disturbing spate of how various militant groups are springing up in the Niger Delta with each of them hiding under regional agitation to commit all manners of crimes and atrocities.

The latest being the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) that claimed responsibility for blowing up NNPC oil pipeline few days ago. The same group has come out again, demanding residents living near oil and gas infrastructure to vacate their homes to avoid being caught in its next attacks.

The Defence Headquarters wishes to state, in clear term, that no group or individual has the right to threaten or force residents in any part of Nigeria to abandon their homes in obeisance to certain group’s selfish and devilish interest.

It is more worrisome that despite the Federal Government’s olive branch to broker peace and profer solution to the lingering Niger Delta problem, some groups are still fanning the ember of war. The military and other security agencies would remain focused, un-intimidated and will display professionalism in ensuring adequate security to lives and property.

While the Armed Forces respect the Government’s negotiation with relevant stakeholders in the Niger Delta, the military exercise and operations in the area are not targeted at any group or meant towards making lives difficult for the inhabitants. The ongoing exercise is geared towards enhancing civil-military relationship and building the confidence of the resident on the ability of the military to protect them. The exercise also demonstrates the strength of the troops to purge the region of criminals and economic saboteurs. The Armed Forces would not tolerate any form of criminality in that region.

The military and other security agencies wish to therefore re-affirm their total commitment to ensure security of lives and property, not only in the Niger Delta, but throughout the federation. We also solicit the cooperation of all the stakeholders, including the royal fathers, leaders and youths to achieve this feat. We urge public, especially those residing in the Niger Delta, to discountenance the threat and request innocent citizens and those domiciled therein to go about their legitimate businesses.

BREAKING! Tension In Niger Delta As Militants Ask Residents To Vacate Major Oil Facilities

 The Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM), a set of militant group has warned residents in major oil and gas facilities across the region to evacuate with immediate effect in order not to end up as casualties of militancy.


Accoding to NDGJM, all marked facilities in the region have been rigged with explosives at strategic points, waiting to be detonated, adding that the detonation was being held back because of the people in the environment.

Warning!!!, we are requesting and at the same time appealing to residents around major oil and gas facilities across our region to please evacuate immediately.

“This warning has become necessary because of the fact that we do not wish any of our people, for whom we have taken up this crusade, to become casualties of our campaign.

“All the marked facilities in all the states have been rigged with explosives at strategic points, waiting to be detonated.

“We are being slowed down by the presence of those that are living close by. This struggle will only cease when the adversarial Nigerian system yields to reason,” a statement by the group’s spokesman, Aldo Agbalaja read.

Agbalaja further warned the Federal Government to be wary of Chief Edwin Clark, insisting that the ceasefire declared by the elder statesman on behalf of militants was “a big fat lie, another charade.”

He said Chief Clark and his cohorts were desperate to make money from government, oil companies and the general public out of the present situation in the name of a “non-existent cease fire by the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate.”

He maintained that there was no reason yet for the group to halt its assault against oil facilities when the government was “yet to move a muscle to respond to our requests,” adding the group has no member or talking leader by the name ODU.

“This said call and the so-called ceasefire is all a job, just like the Ijaw-dominated, Clark convened Niger Delta stakeholders meeting in Effurun was, they both are meant to justify money they hope to obtain from government.

“The high command of the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate uses this medium to alert the world to disregard this fraud. We have our means of communicating, definitely not a call.

“With this development, if the Nigerian security system is serious about catching frauds and militants, they should get those who claimed to have spoken on phone with ODU, they should still have his physical contacts.

“When we make our next ‘LOUD’ statement, they should go after ODU, who just claimed to be the leader of the mandate,” they said.

From this statement, one can deduces that, the group is not an Urhobo as it has been reported in a section of the media, noting that as a result of the Urhobo tag, there has been reckless invasion of some Urhobo communities by the military.

The group has also reaffirmed its lack of confidence in the Chief Edwin Clark-led team to dialogue with the federal government. The group insisted it has not appointed anyone or group to go into negotiating with anybody or government on its behalf. The group, in a statement signed by Gen. Aldo Agbalaja, warned the federal government to be wary of the antics of some leaders in the region whose aim is to make money are capable of doing anything to defraud anyone in the guise of championing the course of the Niger Delta region.