Threat By Niger Delta Avengers Unnecessary — Presidency

*Says threats came barely 48 hours after germane issues were
addressed by President

The Presidency on Sunday reacted to the threat by the Niger
Delta Avengers to bomb oil installations if some demands were not
met by federal government, saying the recent threat of force by the
Avengers is unnecessary.

It, however, said it was curious that the threat was coming
barely 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari met with the
leadership of the Niger Delta and Ijaw National Congress (INC), at
the State House, Abuja and the germane issues, especially call for
restructuring of the federation, and the inauguration of a Board
for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), had been
thrashed out.

A release on Sunday by the Media Adviser to the President, Femi
Adesina, stressed that the media was Sunday awash with threats and
demands by a group, Niger Delta Avengers, to embark on economic
sabotage through bombing of critical oil and gas installations
unless certain demands, including development of the Niger Delta,
and restructuring of the Federation, were met.

He said for clarity and record purposes, the full text of the
speech by President Buhari on Friday, June 25, 2021, had rendered
any sabre-rattling unnecessary.
See the full text of the President’s speech, released by the
Presidency:

“As the symbol of the collective voice of the Ijaw people, which
is one of Nigeria’s main ethnic groups, the existence of a focused
and people oriented leadership would go a long way in articulating
the demands of the Ijaw people and making sure these demands are
made part of the national discourse.

“I particularly note your ten point demand to the Federal
Government in your inaugural speech and assure you that this
administration is frontally addressing them.

“I am equally concerned about the rate of environmental
degradation in the Niger Delta and as you are aware the HydroCarbon
Pollution Remediation Project has started work with remediation
efforts in Ogoni land and I have directed the Minister of
Environment to ensure that the projects are implemented with a high
percentage of local content and inclusion of the surrounding
communities.

“Similarly, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response
Agency, under the same ministry of Environment is working to make
sure that oil spills are reduced and new ones prevented. As you are
also aware, all the responsible agencies of government have been
directed to ensure that they enforce compliance by the
International Oil Companies to international best practices.

“In addressing your call for immediate restructuring, the
National Assembly whose responsibility it is to ensure that our
constitution responds to the call for a restructured Nigeria, has
already concluded regional consultations and as soon as they
finalise the process, necessary action would not be delayed on my
part.

“In the same vein, your call for creation of two additional
states and more local government areas for the Ijaw people is a
legislative matter, which should naturally be handled by the
National Assembly and seeking concurrence at the state levels.

“I completely agree with your call to allocate operational
licenses for marginal fields to Ijaw people. However, like you
know, the process of granting licenses is guided by laid down rules
and regulations, most of which even favour local content and local
contractors. I see no reason why they should not be granted such
licenses if they qualify.

“On the issue of fair and balanced appointments to reflect
federal character principles, I re-affirm that this has always been
my focus and would continue to be because I have always seen
Nigeria as a country where everyone should be given equal
opportunities.

“A contentious issue that has been a subject of discourse
amongst the Ijaw people of recent has been the need for the Niger
Delta Development Commission to live up to its billing by
delivering the required succour to the people of the region. Based
on the mismanagement that had previously be-devilled the NDDC, a
forensic audit was set up and the result is expected by the end of
July, 2021.

“I want to assure you that as soon as the forensic audit report
is submitted and accepted, the NDDC Board would be inaugurated.
However, I would like to implore you that the Ijaw National
Congress should play a more active role in making sure that the
mismanagement that occurred in the past is not repeated.

“I am particularly happy to note your call for promoting
ownership of modular refineries by the Ijaw people and I will urge
you to interphase with your sons who are involved in the processes
of establishing these refineries, especially the Honourable
Minister of State Petroleum Resources to actualize this quest.

“Like you well know, completion of the East-West Road is top on
my infrastructure agenda and I will look to its speedy conclusion.
Again, the occasional disturbance by youths in some communities
along the route to construction work would require your close
attention and guidance.

“Furthermore, we have made considerable progress with the
construction of the Bonny to Port Harcourt Bridge.

“I am very happy with the recent affirmation of your belief in a
United Nigeria and while I thank you for standing with me, I will
also implore you to use your leverage in making sure that we keep
working together to keep this country a united, indivisible entity,
so that we can tackle our problems together and overcome our
challenges together.

“I would like now to commend Professor Okaba for your emphasis
on supporting the fight against insecurity by developing internal
control mechanisms as well as working with other institutions in
the country to address our current security challenges.

“While I thank you once more for this visit and I will continue
to count on your support as we work towards resolving our current
challenges.

“God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

*Says threats came barely 48 hours after germane issues were
addressed by President

The Presidency on Sunday reacted to the threat by the Niger
Delta Avengers to bomb oil installations if some demands were not
met by federal government, saying the recent threat of force by the
Avengers is unnecessary.

It, however, said it was curious that the threat was coming
barely 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari met with the
leadership of the Niger Delta and Ijaw National Congress (INC), at
the State House, Abuja and the germane issues, especially call for
restructuring of the federation, and the inauguration of a Board
for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), had been
thrashed out.

A release on Sunday by the Media Adviser to the President, Femi
Adesina, stressed that the media was Sunday awash with threats and
demands by a group, Niger Delta Avengers, to embark on economic
sabotage through bombing of critical oil and gas installations
unless certain demands, including development of the Niger Delta,
and restructuring of the Federation, were met.

He said for clarity and record purposes, the full text of the
speech by President Buhari on Friday, June 25, 2021, had rendered
any sabre-rattling unnecessary.
See the full text of the President’s speech, released by the
Presidency:

“As the symbol of the collective voice of the Ijaw people, which
is one of Nigeria’s main ethnic groups, the existence of a focused
and people oriented leadership would go a long way in articulating
the demands of the Ijaw people and making sure these demands are
made part of the national discourse.

“I particularly note your ten point demand to the Federal
Government in your inaugural speech and assure you that this
administration is frontally addressing them.

“I am equally concerned about the rate of environmental
degradation in the Niger Delta and as you are aware the HydroCarbon
Pollution Remediation Project has started work with remediation
efforts in Ogoni land and I have directed the Minister of
Environment to ensure that the projects are implemented with a high
percentage of local content and inclusion of the surrounding
communities.

“Similarly, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response
Agency, under the same ministry of Environment is working to make
sure that oil spills are reduced and new ones prevented. As you are
also aware, all the responsible agencies of government have been
directed to ensure that they enforce compliance by the
International Oil Companies to international best practices.

“In addressing your call for immediate restructuring, the
National Assembly whose responsibility it is to ensure that our
constitution responds to the call for a restructured Nigeria, has
already concluded regional consultations and as soon as they
finalise the process, necessary action would not be delayed on my
part.

“In the same vein, your call for creation of two additional
states and more local government areas for the Ijaw people is a
legislative matter, which should naturally be handled by the
National Assembly and seeking concurrence at the state levels.

“I completely agree with your call to allocate operational
licenses for marginal fields to Ijaw people. However, like you
know, the process of granting licenses is guided by laid down rules
and regulations, most of which even favour local content and local
contractors. I see no reason why they should not be granted such
licenses if they qualify.

“On the issue of fair and balanced appointments to reflect
federal character principles, I re-affirm that this has always been
my focus and would continue to be because I have always seen
Nigeria as a country where everyone should be given equal
opportunities.

“A contentious issue that has been a subject of discourse
amongst the Ijaw people of recent has been the need for the Niger
Delta Development Commission to live up to its billing by
delivering the required succour to the people of the region. Based
on the mismanagement that had previously be-devilled the NDDC, a
forensic audit was set up and the result is expected by the end of
July, 2021.

“I want to assure you that as soon as the forensic audit report
is submitted and accepted, the NDDC Board would be inaugurated.
However, I would like to implore you that the Ijaw National
Congress should play a more active role in making sure that the
mismanagement that occurred in the past is not repeated.

“I am particularly happy to note your call for promoting
ownership of modular refineries by the Ijaw people and I will urge
you to interphase with your sons who are involved in the processes
of establishing these refineries, especially the Honourable
Minister of State Petroleum Resources to actualize this quest.

“Like you well know, completion of the East-West Road is top on
my infrastructure agenda and I will look to its speedy conclusion.
Again, the occasional disturbance by youths in some communities
along the route to construction work would require your close
attention and guidance.

“Furthermore, we have made considerable progress with the
construction of the Bonny to Port Harcourt Bridge.

“I am very happy with the recent affirmation of your belief in a
United Nigeria and while I thank you for standing with me, I will
also implore you to use your leverage in making sure that we keep
working together to keep this country a united, indivisible entity,
so that we can tackle our problems together and overcome our
challenges together.

“I would like now to commend Professor Okaba for your emphasis
on supporting the fight against insecurity by developing internal
control mechanisms as well as working with other institutions in
the country to address our current security challenges.

“While I thank you once more for this visit and I will continue
to count on your support as we work towards resolving our current
challenges.

“God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”