The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has linked lasting peace in the oil-rich region to sustained economic growth and industrialisation that will create jobs and keep youths meaningfully engaged.
Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, made this known yesterday in Enugu at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), where he spoke on “Water and Marine Security.”
Ogbuku said the current oil production of 1.8 million barrels per day is largely due to inter agency security in the Niger Delta, stressing that improved economy and industrialisation will further reduce youth restiveness and boost productivity.
According to him, the region has moved past the era when militants turned communities into unsafe camps. “No community in the Niger Delta is a militant camp because the area has been lighted up. Today, we have created equality in the Niger Delta,” he declared.
The NDDC boss assured that the Commission will continue to support security agencies to safeguard the waterways and harness opportunities in the emerging blue economy.
He added that national policy on marine and blue economy can only succeed with the backing of security agencies.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), faulted the Nigerian Army for allegedly usurping the constitutional duties of the Police.
Speaking at the same event, Falana said the military’s growing involvement in internal security breaches the Constitution.
He stressed that “national security is different from government security,” urging security agencies to operate strictly within constitutional limits.
The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, also appealed to security operatives to respect citizens’ rights in enforcement activities.