Chidi Samuel
Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Thursday warned that the country faces a bleak future if it continues to depend on oil income for its survival. The Vice President who spoke in Gbaramatu kingdom during a visit to Delta State on Monday, informed his audience that countries who buy oil from Nigeria are now devising alternative means of power such as solar and wind energy.
Prof. Osinbajo therefore called for synergy among federal, state governments and civil society organisations to solve the numerous challenges in the Niger Delta region if the country is to move forward.
In his words, “We must be smart and act intelligently and fast.”
The visit of the Vice President to Delta State on Monday is part of the ongoing efforts of the Buhari administration to achieve a permanent resolution of the Niger Delta crisis which in 2016 reduced Nigeria’s oil output by half.
According to Prof. Osibajo, “In 2013 alone, there are over 3700 incidents of pipeline vandalisation. From January to June 2016, there were over 1447 incidents of vandalisation.
“The Niger Delta of today is one where aside environmental degradation, between 1998 and 2015, over 20,000 persons have died from fire incidents arising from breaching of the pipelines.
“To prepare for a great future for the Gbaramatu kingdom, three things must happen: we must recognise the unique environmental challenges the Niger Delta is facing, we must also recognise that the Niger Delta is a special economic zone for this nation so we must treat it as a special development zone.
“This means the federal government, state government, National Assembly, NDDC, civil societies representing Niger Delta must sit together and develop a plan for rapid development.
“There is no excuse for not planning together. The federal government cannot solve the problem of Niger Delta. It is impossible for the FG to do it alone. The state should devote substantial portion of its budget to this special project,” Mr. Osinbajo said.
The Vice President pointed out that the PAN Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has submitted a concise list of 16 dialogue issues that will be extremely helpful in ascertaining the key development priorities and that the Federal Government is concerned with infrastructural development of the region.
“It is an important working document that represents an excellent road map to the future of Niger Delta,” he said.
“In the 2017 budget, we have provided for the commencement of the Lagos – Calabar rail way which will go through Delta. We are working with the Chinese on this project.
“When I leave here we will visit the site of the Maritime University. The president has directed the ministry of petroleum to work quick to see to the realisation of all of the objectives of implementing this crucial educational institution.
“Establishing this university has passed the second reading in the National Assembly and I know we have the commitment of the members of the national assembly to fast track this bill so that the maritime school will be completed as soon as possible,” he added.
The Maritime University is expected to commence fully in September.
The vice president also inspected the temporary site of the Maritime University in Kurutie, which is expected to commence operations in September.
Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta who was on the entourage, said the visit would bring changes to the region.
“I urged you to give peace a chance to bring development to our region,” he pleaded with Niger Delta youths.
The President of Ijaw Youth Council, Mr Eradiri Udens, also assured that the Ijaw Youths would work with President Muhammadu Buhari-led government