Niger Delta Leaders ask for allocation of oil blocs to natives, Ogoni clean-up, maritime university, 13 other issues from FG

At the two-hour closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, held earlier today, the Leaders and Stakeholders of the Niger Delta, led by elder statesman Chief Edwin Clark, presented a list of 16 issues for dialogue. 

The issues presented ranged from Infrastructure needs to the strengthening of institutions like the NDDC, allocation of oil blocs to natives of Niger Delta, maritime university, matters of fiscal federalism, Ogoni clean-up, employment opportunities for trained ex-militants and support for the internally displaced persons in the region.

 

Other demands includes, relocation of international oil companies with headquarters in Lekki and other places back to their areas of operations, manpower and human resources development.

The President noted that they are already looking into many of these issues and are also currently reviewing the implementation of the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, to determine the shortcomings, and areas for reform.

Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Chief Edwin Clark said they were well received by the President, adding that they were not at the Presidential Villa for a battle.

"We have no other country than Nigeria. We cannot continue to destroy the assets of the country and the ecosystem of our environment." he said.

This post first appeared on Linda Ikeji's Blog. Read the original story here.