A Nigerian pleads in the United States for the area of the Delta of Niger
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Houston, the United States (BREADED) - the director of Africa political and economic strategic center (AFRIPOL), Emeka Chiakwelu, a Nigerian installed in the United States pled Wednesday in favour of “solid partnerships” between the communities of the Delta of Niger and the oil companies multinational working in the area.
“We must adopt a strategic approach for a real transformation of the area of the Delta of Niger, in order to answer the objections of the population”, said Mr. Chiakwelu, at the time of the Conference on gas and oil in West Africa and power station, which opened Tuesday in Houston, in Texas.
It also said that: “it is only through the dialogue and the determination that the area will see peace, its economy to thrive and the safety of the lives and the investments guaranteed”.
So that that takes place, Mr. Chiakwelu indicated that the oil multinationals must organize meetings with the communities to establish the fields of partnership and support.
This expert in economy also added that the oil companies, the federal government and the governments of the various States must “engage and to re-enlist” to bring the development to the population of the area rich in oil.
“If they make it and that the communities react like equal partners, we will lay down a strategic objective which we will carry out thereafter and who will also profit with us all”, Mr. Chiakwelu noted.
He also invited the companies with always implying the local communities in their local initiatives in order to offer possibilities to the population, but also to promote socio-economic activities.
“The federal government must also set up structures in the area of the Delta of Niger which will stimulate the socio-economic program and employment appropriatenesses other, in order to divert the spirits (certain inhabitants) of the attacks against the installations and the employees of the oil sector”, it recommended.
According to him, the problem of the area rises from the disinterest of the administrations passed, which omitted to set up structures to promote the growth and the development.
“The stake is to create advisabilities to attenuate the sufferings of the population and to imply it in positive activities”, Mr. Chiakwelu underlined.
Concerning the investments in Nigeria, it exhorted the businessmen and companies based in the United States to explore the vast potential of its country, where “the sector of gas and oil pays enormously, just as the other sectors of the national economy”.
“The future of Nigeria remains very brilliant, because the country is equipped with abundant resources and from the very great proximity of the international markets”, it concluded.
Houston - 14/06/2007
