Buhari visits restive Niger Delta region on Thursday

President Muhammadu Buhari will visit the oil rich Niger Delta on Thursday. It will be the first visit since his election last year as Nigeria’s president.

Buhari’s visit comes at the time when the Niger Delta has been witnessing a series of attacks targeting the petroleum sector which is vital for Nigeria’ s economy.

Buhari To Visit Niger Delta Thursday https://t.co/auwsJa3Xeg pic.twitter.com/iY3OB4HXGW

— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) May 31, 2016

Key pipelines and facilities operated by multinational giants, Shell and Chevron are amongst the most affected.

The frequent attacks have reduced oil production in Nigeria to a record low since the 1990s

Nigeria’s crude production estimated at 2.2 million barrels a day in budgetary projections, has dropped to 1.4 million barrels per day.

During his first anniversary speech, president Buhari pledged to re-engineer the amnesty programme for former militants and intensify dialogue as part of measures to stop the attacks on oil installations.