Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Federal Government has offered to meet with members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) days after the group threatened to resume attacks on oil installations in the region.
Last year, the militant group carried out series of attacks on oil facilities in the oil-rich region, which dropped the volume of oil produced by the country, which heavily relies on the commodity presently experiencing a price hike in the global market.
Hostilities by the Niger Delta Avengers caused the nation’s economy to fall into recession due to drop in volume and price of crude oil.
Reacting to the group’s threat on Monday, Minister of the Niger Delta, Mr Usani Uguru Usani, appealed with the militants to be patient with the government.
The Minister said government was planning several developmental projects for the region neglected by successive administrations.
Though the group later relaxed off its threat last Friday, the Minister said government would dialogue with them.
“If the Avengers wants to meet with us, we are ready to meet with them … We are at all times ready to engage them and other groups and stakeholders,” the Minister said in Abuja yesterday.
He further said, “My message to the Avengers is that they should be patient with the government. We have been doing what we can to ensure the development of the region.
“Everything has a phase of planning and a phase of execution so I will advise all stakeholders to remain calm.”
Earlier this year, the Vice President, Mr Yemi Osinbajo, visited oil producing states, where he met with stakeholders, calling for peace.
His tour of the states brought relative peace to the region, boosting the volume of oil production again since then.
