N’Delta Dialogue: Osinbajo Visits Abia

Osinbajo was accompanied by high powered Federal Government delegates including the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Ikachukwu, Minister of Trade and Industry, Okechukwu Enelamah and Minister of Niger Delta Mr. Uguru Usani.

He was received by the Abia State governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu before proceeding to a town hall meeting with traditional rulers.

Osinbajo was also conferred with a chieftaincy title, ENYIOHA 1-Friend of the People, by the traditional rulers on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The Niger Delta initiative is a vision conceived by President Buhari to begin a partnership with states in the region, local governments, oil companies, private sector, and civil society organizations for the rapid development of oil producing communities.

The visit makes it the 6th state the Vice President has visited in the past 2 months, after trips to Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo and Akwa Ibom.

The visit also comes one day after a stakeholders meeting on the implementation of the New Vision for the Niger Delta, held at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, Abuja.

The meeting which centered on job creation efforts across the Niger Delta region, brought together government officials from Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Imo Ondo and Rivers states.

VP Osinbajo now in Abia State continuing FG’S interactive engagements with oil-producing communities. He went through Kaduna-Owerri to Abia

— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) March 24, 2017

2. VP accompanied by 3 Ministers:Trade &Industry, Niger Delta& Petroleum Resources-State, received by Abia Gov & now with traditional rulers

— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) March 24, 2017

3. VP honoured by Abia State traditional rulers with ENYIOHA 1-Friend of the People, receives the honor on behalf of the Buhari presidency

— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) March 24, 2017

During OSinbajo’s visit to Rivers in February, the Vice President assured oil producing communities on Federal Government’s readiness to guarantee the residents benefit from the wealth of the land.

“We must convene an oil-communities intervention meeting to work out what can be done in the short to medium term and the long term possibilities. We must focus on how to ensure that the people see the benefits of the wealth of the land,” the VP said.

“This new vision will define the future of the region. Oil exploitation by itself cannot suffice to assure our people of decent jobs and a decent income.

“We must make our oil producing communities hubs for petro-chemical industries, small and large. We must make these communities hubs for refining and related activities.”