End of militancy gave rise to kidnapping, illegal bunkering – Uduaghan

He also said that another challenge currently confronting the state was the aggression of  herdsmen against farmers, adding that lives had been lost in the process.

Uduaghan made this known while receiving Information Minister Labaran Maku, when he led members of his Good Governance Tour team on a courtesy visit to him in Asaba on Thursday.

In spite of the problems, he said that the Federal Government’s Amnesty Programme for former militants had yielded tremendous result.

The governor explained that most youths had been gainfully engaged just as peace had returned to the area.

“For the identified vices, however, we are already working out strategies to tackle them,” he said and gave the assurance that desired peace would soon begin to reign in the state.

Earlier, Maku said that the future of youths in Niger Delta was in peace and security of the zone and urged young people in the area to support the federal and state governments in the region to attain peace and sustain it.

He particularly commended Uduaghan for his security efforts in Delta and charged governors of other Niger Delta states to work together to strengthen their security capacities.

On development, the minister stated that Delta had moved on greatly from the time it was created till now, adding, “Delta has been transformed”.

He said that the Asaba Airport was grandiose in modernity, and that it had diminished the “old generation” airports which dotted the country landscape and were costing the nation huge amount of money on regular rehabilitation.

He recalled that he was on a working visit to Asaba shortly after Delta was created and said, “from the Delta I saw then and what I have seen recently and I am seeing now, so much positive things have happened.

“I must commend the governor for his transformation effort and I call on all citizens to support him.” (NAN)