Ijaw Monitoring Group, IMG, has said that the non–inclusion of the first Minister of Finance and founder of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company Limited, late Chief Samuel Okotie–Eboh, in the currency notes of Nigeria was a crime against the people of Niger Delta.

Speaking at the launch of a book in honour of late Chief Okotie-Eboh to mark the 50th anniversary of his death in Lagos, the Coordinator of IMG, Comrade Joseph Evah, said successive governments after the coup that took the life of Chief Okotie–Eboh were insensitive to the achievements of the late flamboyant politician.

“It is a shame that Nigeria failed to recognize the achievements of this icon of Niger Delta before this 50 years anniversary.

“Nobody can write the complete history of Nigeria without mentioning the Central Bank, Customs, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company initiated by Okotie-Eboh.  Yet our hero and ambassador of Niger Delta culture in the global stage in post–independence era is missing in our currency notes. It is an unpardonable offence against our people,” Evah said.

He added: “There is no evil done against any group of people that cannot be reversed. We want the Buhari government to reverse this injustice against our hero who was one of the early industrialists to establish business empires in West Africa. Today, the people of Niger Delta are demanding that the headquarters of the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting, or the Central Bank of Nigeria should be named after our hero.”