Acting President takes Niger Delta charm offensive to Bayelsa

Acting Nigeria President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, embarked on another leg of the federal governments dialogue tour of oil rich Niger Delta communities on Friday.

Militants in the region have all but paralysed Nigeria's economy, striking at oil pipelines and sending most of Nigeria into darkness.

The nation relies on gas from the Delta to power electricity turbines.

Nigeria's crude oil output has also tanked; averaging 1.7 million barrels per day instead of expected output of 2.2 million barrels per day, no thanks to the activities of militants operating from the creeks.

The nation's oil wealth in the last 50 years hasn't led to commensurate development in the Delta--a region where poverty and environmental degradation are rife.

Osinbajo was in Delta State last month in the first leg of a charm offensive aimed at restoring peace to a restive region.

There have also been stopovers in Rivers State.

This week, with President Muhammadu Buhari's blessings, Osinbajo headed for Bayelsa where he was met with a joyous crowd and traditional rulers.

"I am in Bayelsa now as we continue federal government's dialogue with our Niger Delta oil communities. I have come today on behalf of the President and Commander-In-Chief", said Nigeria's Vice President who has been standing in for an ailing Buhari.

President Buhari is waiting to receive results of medical tests from his Doctors in a London apartment and recently sought for an extension from parliament.

Osinbajo added that: "I am here with cabinet colleagues and heads of relevant agencies to propose a new vision, signposting a new era for our people in the Niger Delta".

The Vice President admonished the people that it makes no sense to vandalise oil installations and cripple an economy already on its knees.

"We must not allow anyone to persuade us to destroy investments, or pollute our environment to prove a point or to get a few benefits.

"That is cutting our nose to spite our face! We must make haste. We must move quickly. Day by day, the world is moving away from oil.

"For many years, we heard our major oil buyer, developing shale oil, we did nothing. Today does not buy a drop of oil from us.

"We must focus on how to ensure that people see the benefits of the land's wealth. This new vision will define the future of the region".

Crude oil still accounts for 95 percent of Nigeria's foreign exchange earnings and 80 percent of budgetary revenues.

Nigeria slipped into an economic recession in 2016, following a slump in the global price of oil.

The country's currency has weakened and inflation spiralled to 18.5 percent, according to latest figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The Buhari administration has often said it is looking forward to a future without oil which it aims to achieve by diversifying sources of government revenue.

Acting President takes Niger Delta charm offensive to Bayelsa

Acting Nigeria President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, embarked on another leg of the federal governments dialogue tour of oil rich Niger Delta communities on Friday.

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