The details of the meeting between the South-South Governors and the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Lucky Irabor, has emerged.
Speaking on Friday with reporters in Asaba the Delta State capital, Irabor stated that the meeting was held to discuss security challenges affecting the Niger Delta region.
He added that President Muhammadu Buhari is deeply worried about the rising security challenges in the zone which may affect oil exploration.
Irabor asserted that the insecurity in the region demands quick action, as mandated by President Buhari, adding that there is a need to reverse the trend.
He said: “Given that the issues demand quick action, as mandated by Mr President, we have come to engage with you and the requirement would involve the whole of society.
“As critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta, we believe that our framework would address the current issues. You will be playing a critical part.
“It is for this reason that we have chosen to engage with you, as directed by Mr President.”
In his remarks, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State said the collaboration between the governors and the military is a welcome idea, adding that the issues of insecurity require a stakeholders’ approach.
He said: “I do think that this collaboration is a very welcome idea and that it will give us the room for even greater collaboration because it requires a stakeholders’ approach to this very challenging issue,” Okowa said.
“As for us, the more oil and gas we are able to produce, the better for our states, because to a very large extent, it will improve the revenues that we have from federal allocation.
“And beyond that too, we do believe that if we are able to put a stop to what is going on in our environment, it will be a lot cleaner than what it is.
“This is because outside the economic challenge, we also do realise that the issues that are currently going on are actually those that affect the health of our people.”
