The Minister of Niger Delta Development Abubakar Momoh has met with former president Goodluck Jonathan to discuss issues bothering the Niger Delta region, including how to tackle the issues of crude oil theft and infrastructure.
The minister also met with Asari-Dakubo as part of his strategic consultation to proffer solutions to the many challenges bothering the oil-rich region.
The report has it that the country suffered a shortfall of 470,000 barrels per day, in August 2023, representing 29 percent Crude oil theft was largely blamed for the shortfall.
The visit of the minister to the former president was therefore to seek advice on how to better address the perennial challenges in the region.
According to a statement by the office of the minister, valuable and insightful discussions were shared on strategies to combat the issue of stolen crude, enhance infrastructure and employment opportunities for the teeming youths of Niger Delta.
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, Chief Mike Oghiadohme.
“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 monies wrongly allocated to unrelated projects by past governments.”
