Niger Delta summit will achieve clear results, VP Jonathan pledges
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Jun 30, 2008, 18:49

The Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has said that the Steering Committee that would pilot the Niger – Delta Summit will be inaugurated by early July 2008. The committee, amongst other things, is expected to harmonize logistics and reach out to all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta region towards a date for the planned Summit.

Dr. Jonathan stated this at the State House Abuja on Saturday June 28, when he received a delegation of Six US Congressmen led by Representative Howard Berman, Chairman, US House Committee on Foreign Relations.

He said “government is trying to ensure that most of the problems that led to the crisis in the Niger-Delta is resolved,” adding, “the Niger Delta Summit will achieve clear results. President Umar Yar’Adua is totally committed to bringing lasting peace to the region, hence, there will be a commitment on the part of the Federal Government and all recommendations at the Summit will be carried out to the letter.”

Dr. Jonathan acknowledged the genuine grievances of the people of the Niger – Delta spanning over a long period. He however noted that some criminals have however seized the opportunities of these genuine agitations to continually perpetuate criminal acts. He therefore called on the International community to assist the country “in stopping the illegal acts of gunrunning and oil bunkering in the Niger Delta.”

According to him, “majority of those involved in bunkering and arms trade in the region are not from the Niger Delta, and they are the ones instigating the youths of the region. It will therefore be welcomed if the US government will assist Nigeria in curbing the criminalities within the area, since the US government has its security installations in the Gulf of Guinea, protecting its investment situated there.”

Expressing confidence in the US – Nigeria relations, the Vice President commended the efforts of the US government in its assistance to both industrialized and developing nations all over the World saying, “it is hoped that Nigeria will also be assisted considerably, especially in the area of power and rail transport networks.”

He assured the delegation that, “Nigeria will continue to play key roles in peace keeping missions, both in Africa and in other parts of the world.” He however noted the enormous challenge in its sustainability, coupled with the challenges of providing basic infrastructures, at home, noting, “Nigeria needs a lot of resources to be able to effectively carry out these peace missions.” He therefore called for assistance from the US government, in the area of the upkeep of Nigerian Military Personnel’s on peace missions abroad.

Earlier, Congressman Berman commended the administration’s steady progress, especially this years’ economic growth rate of 7.8%. He offered his condolences in respect of the tragic death of 46 Nigerian soldiers that died in a ghastly road accident, in May 2008, on their return to the country, after meritorious national service in Darfur Sudan.

While acknowledging the importance of Nigeria to the United States, Mr. Berman commended the country for its peace roles in Africa and beyond, and called on the federal government not to relent in this regard.

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