Niger Delta Minister Strengthens Regional Ties, Gains Support from Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Asari-Dokubo

By Sunday Onye, Senior Correspondent

In a proactive endeavor to bolster regional collaboration and address critical issues facing the Niger Delta region, the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Hon. Engr. Abubakar Momoh, has embarked on a series of significant visits and discussions with prominent leaders.

These engagements aim to harness their collective expertise, with a strong focus on combatting crude oil theft, improving infrastructure, and fostering economic opportunities for the region’s youth.

A statement from the office of the Minister said, “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, His Excellency, Chief Mike Oghiadohme.

Hon. Engr. 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.

Engr. Momoh further commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his support and mentorship in addressing critical challenges and advancing the nation’s development.

To expand his consultations with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region, the Hon. 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.

Alhaji Asari-Dokubo, a significant political figure, provided valuable advice and expressed his commitment to supporting the Minister in his role.

Engr. 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.

According to Asari-Dokubo, the Minister is a sincere personality who would be dedicated to addressing infrastructural deficits in the Niger Delta. He called on Niger Deltans to support the Minister and prevent obstacles that could derail the Ministry’s development plan.

Asari-Dokubo also urged President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to take action to recover the ₦600 billion wrongly allocated to unrelated projects, emphasizing 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.