“Niger Delta crisis is an exaggeration”

  1. Posted on Friday 20 February 2009 - 09:40
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Mohamed Kamara, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    The crisis in the Niger-Delta has been exaggerated and blown out of proportion Dr. Charles Lopse., United Nation Assistance Secretary General has said. "I think it is important for us to separate speculation from facts; we are on the ground in the Niger Delta, so we know exactly what is going on here."
    niger delta
    “There is a lot of rumor about the area, but there is also something that needed to be taken care of’,” he said, shortly after a meeting with Port Harcourt Governor Chibuike Rotimi on Wednesday, according to the Nigerian Vanguard newspaper.

    Dr. Lopse added that “there is an image problem which needs to be managed and once it is handled, people would realize that the government is committed to the transformation of the area.”

    Dr. Lopse who is also the UNITAR Executive Director he said despite the security challenges in the region his office is functional because “we have assessed the situation and identified areas that are dangerous.’’

    He continued: “but not to exaggerate the situation and lump the entire area together as no-go-area, a lot of people live here, and they do not encounter any banditry or any security problem different from what they would find in many other countries, and different parts of Nigeria.”

    Port Harcourt is home to Nigeria’s main militant group MEND (Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta). According to MEND they are fighting for fair share of there country’s oil wealth. Until recently, the group is specialized in hostage taking and demanding ransom payment.

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