Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was on Friday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state accorded a rousing welcome as he continues his peace mission to Niger Delta.
He affirmed that the Federal Government would provide rapid development for oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta.
The visit to the state was in continuation of his tour of the zone for peace talks with oil communities and leaders.
Osinbajo said at the stakeholders meeting that the oil industry was the dominant source of foreign exchange earnings for the country and that it was time the country added value to crude oil.
According to him, adding value to crude oil will bring enormous economic benefits to oil-bearing communities.
Osinbajo assured that the Federal Government was committed to rapid development of the communities and urged stakeholders to support the peace efforts.
He pointed out that oil communities were fundamental to the development plans of the Federal Government and urged stakeholders to embrace peace for development to take place.
Earlier, Bayelsa Governor, Mr Seriake Dickson, said that dialogue and consultation remained the most effective solution to Niger Delta crisis rather than military option.
He solicited the support of the Federal Government to tackle development challenges facing the state as the difficult terrain had made the cost of providing infrastructure quite exorbitant for the state government to cope.
President, Ijaw Youths Council, Mr Udens Eradiri, appealed to the Federal Government to legalize the operation of artisanal refineries to create jobs for the teeming youths and save the environment.
He said that if legalised, the refineries would operate in an environmentally-sustainable manner, adding that job creation for the youths was a panacea to check militancy.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
