Nigeria's Presidency has deployed political office holders, top officials of the Federal Government and ministers from the Niger Delta region back home to commence dialogue with Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militants, who are allegedly involved in the destruction of oil pipelines.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, made the disclosure yesterday while fielding questions from journalists, stressing that the Presidency has no intention of using force to
resolve the crisis because it might escalate the country's oil production decline.
“Federal Government officials are presently in their various states dialoguing not only with their respective governors but aggrieved elements on the best way to resolving the problems arising from the bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta region.
“Ministers of Niger Delta, Interior and Coordinator of the Amnesty Office have been taking actions consistent with their powers."Almost all the ministers and officers from the Niger Delta region have returned to their respective states. They are in their respective zones and blocs to talk to their leaders and aggrieved persons on the need for us to maintain peace.
"I will not tell you what Mr. President wants to do in person, but these are officers and offices which are dealing with the matter. What I know they have done, which some of us are involved in doing by virtue of coming from that zone and by virtue of working with them, is telling our people that economy of the people is bleeding, and the country is hemorrhaging and that we cannot, given the low price of oil, go to certain actions that would further reduce the earnings of Nigeria.
“We have lost several earnings in terms of price, so we shouldn’t lose more earnings in terms of production. I am sure that you are
aware that we budgeted 2.2 million barrel per day and production few weeks ago, lowered to 1.4 million per day and it is climbing to 1.6 and 1.7 million per day and that is capable of affecting the money expected from oil.”
