Delta state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has said majority of the people of Niger Delta believe in continuous dialogue despite the cancellation of Niger Delta summit by the federal government.

Governor Uduaghan in a VOA interview yesterday, described the threat by MEND to blow up oil facilities in the state over claim by NNPC that it paid 12 million dollars to militant groups as unfortunate and assured that JTF has been alerted and is capable of protecting oil facilities and other infrastructure in the state.

Speaking about the need for Niger Delta dialogue, Governor Uduaghan said: "For the issue of the summit you referred to, the problem was that there have been a lot of reports and what the people of the Niger Delta are saying is that, all those reports should be collated and a visible agenda set, such that whatever it is to be done in the Niger Delta, when to do it, who to do it and when to do it, and how to do it are adequately tackled. That is what the people of the Niger Delta are saying. It is not as if they don't want a summit. We will continue to talk to each other. There has to be a continuous dialogue.

As a State Governor, I believe that once this kind of meeting holds, this kind of dialogue goes on, we will be able to work out a road map for the Niger Delta region. But for us as State Government, we believe that the issue of political inclusion, which we are doing, the issue of economic development, which we are doing, is the two key factors that will bring peace to the Niger Delta. Economic Development will involve infrastructure Development, Human Capital Development and these will also attract investors to the area. So that is the strategy and the way we are going."

On the MEND threat, Governor Uduaghan said: "That threat is unfortunate because over the years we have tried to put up structures that will ensure that we have peace and security, and facilities, especially the oil facilities. If any group is trying to destroy such facilities, that will be very, very unfortunate, and we want to appeal that such threats are not necessary.

In Delta State, we have our youths who have been helping us to maintain peace and security. I am reaching out to them and also alerting the Joint Task Force, which is the military task force overseeing the security of that area and also reassuring the people of Delta State generally to provide adequate security especially for the workers and oil facilities."

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