NIGER DELTA: Ex-Agitators Woo Investors, Say Environment Conducive For Business
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by Our Correspondent
Niger Delta ex-agitators may be seeking the return of investors that left the region as a result of militancy as peace.has since returned to the otherwise volatile area.
They also called on interventionist agencies to ensure development of the region to sustain the prevalent peace.
The ex-agitators spoke on Sunday, January 23rd in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa capital, during a regional peace summit to sensitize the people on the need to advance the peace currently enjoyed in the region.
They condemned proliferation of illegal refineries and lamented its adverse effects on development.
One of the Ex-militant leader, Pastor Nature Kieghe said as ex-agitators, who keyed into the vision of the Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), they had resolved to work for a new and better Niger Delta.
In his words; “It is important to sensitize our people towards a peaceful Niger Delta and create a friendly environment that will attract development, Multinational companies and other foreign investors to the region.
“We, who once carried guns, are now here to preach the message of peace to our people in the region.
“Peace is the only way we can have the developed environment that we dream of. Peace is the only way to attract the multinationals, investors and also be gainfully employed”.
He maintained that peace remained a vital requirement to attract investors to the region which would in turn create business and job opportunities for the people.
Speaking further, he said; “Companies that have left the Niger Delta because of insecurity need to return, this is the purpose for sensitization.
“We are blessed with an environment that is supposed to prosper us, we can only enjoy our natural resources if there is a peaceful environment”.
He identified as a major setback to the development of the region, the absence of proper co-ordination among key stakeholders.
According to him; “With the right synergy, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Presidential Amnesty office, could hasten the needed development.
“Beyond hampering the development of the region, illegal refining of petroleum products was life threatening and dangerous to the ecosystem”.
The sensitization programme which will be held across the nine states of the Niger Delta region commenced in Bayelsa state with 150 Niger Delta youths in attendance.
