President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged by Governor Fubara to redirect the ongoing fight against oil theft in the creeks of the Niger Delta region to powerful oil cartels in Abuja who use their positions and influence to rob the country of its resources.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara who disclosed this also faulted the federal Government’s ceding of contracts for the security of oil pipelines in the hands of an individual or a few persons, asserting that the development won’t help the fight against oil theft.
Fubara said until the Federal Government clamps down on the powerful Abuja cartel bankrolling oil theft, no amount of effort would end the economic sabotage associated with the crime.
The Governor denounced the neglect of critical infrastructure in Rivers State, citing the deplorable East-West Road, yet to receive any attention from the Federal Government despite its strategic importance to the economic development of the country.
Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser who led the Federal Government delegation thanked the Governor for the audience, noting that beyond the resources in the region, the Niger Delta deserves peace and better living standards, assuring federal commitment to arresting challenges of insecurity in the region.
The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru said the team had received marching order from the President to visit facilities in the Niger Delta and work with the states to promote peace region and ensure that national assets are protected in the region.
