N/Delta: FG spent over $40 bln in 4 yrs – Kachikwu

 N/Delta: FG spent over $40 bln  in 4 yrs – Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu has said that despite spending over $40 billion  in the Niger Delta region in the last four years, the region remained undeveloped.

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Kachikwu who bemoaned the state of the region disclosed the figure on Friday when he paid a short visit to Chief Edwin Clark in Warri.

The minister noted that the problem of the Niger Delta region goes beyond militancy adding that it required short and long terms solutions.

''The short term solution is to bring the people together to have peace while the long term solution is to see how we can develop the region.

''I will be part of dialogue team as soon as I get back I will put apparatus in place.

''The president is very emphatic about peace in the region,'' he said.

Kachikwu called for a collective approach to addressing the issue.

He also urged the leaders in the Niger Delta region to unite and speak with one voice like the Yoruba and other tribes in the country.

''I am not looking at ceasefire but a permanent peace in the Niger Delta.

''When there is destruction we suffer environmental losses.

''We just raised about $80 billion from China, a lot of it will be channel into gas, and it can't work if there is no peace.

''The topography of Niger Delta is a wonder to behold and if we cannot in our life time do something about it, we have failed God,'' the minister said.

In attendance were: former governor of Delta, Prof Amos Utuama, traditional chiefs in Delta and among others