By our correspondant
National Security Adviser, NSA, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has commended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, for what he described as responsible and inclusive leadership, noting that Rivers remains one of the most peaceful states in the country.
Ribadu who also conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s satisfaction with the governor’s leadership style and coordination, particularly on the ongoing discussions surrounding the resumption of oil exploration activities in Ogoniland, spoke on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the NSA led a presidential delegation that included the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi; the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal; and top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to the state.
In his remarks, he explained that the visit was aimed at consolidating peace efforts in Ogoniland, stressing that a new chapter was unfolding in the area. Ribadu said the transformation taking place in Ogoni signalled a broader shift, declaring that Nigeria “will no longer be what it used to be”.
According to him, President Tinubu specifically directed him to express appreciation to Governor Fubara for his leadership and to thank the people of Ogoni for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout the peace-building process.
Ribadu further praised the Rivers State Government for providing a permanent campus for the University of Environment and hosting the South-South Zonal Office of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Speaking separately, the Minister of Works described the Ogoni peace initiative as strategic to Nigeria’s renewed unity, noting that President Tinubu takes a personal interest in the welfare of the Niger Delta people.
Umahi assured that all sections of the East-West Road within the Niger Delta would be completed to standard, revealing that the 15-kilometre Eleme axis in Ogoniland includes five flyovers, one of which is being constructed by the Rivers State Government. He said the over ₦200bn project is expected to be completed by April 2026.
The minister also disclosed that, with presidential approval, designs were ongoing for the dualisation of the Bonny-Bodo Road from its starting point to the East-West Road, including the construction of two flyovers. He added that the President had ordered a redesign of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to pass through Ogoniland.
Responding, Governor Fubara thanked President Tinubu for his intervention, describing it as a demonstration of genuine love for Rivers State. He noted that resolving a crisis that had lingered for more than three decades in Ogoniland was not an easy task.
The governor said the President’s intervention had improved mobility along the East-West Road corridor, connecting Bonny and Bayelsa States, and emphasised that beyond infrastructure, the Federal Government was rebuilding trust and confidence in the region.
Fubara reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining peace and managing emerging conflicts, noting that development could not thrive in an atmosphere of crisis. He appealed to Ogoni leaders to engage youths to allow oil facility operators access to repair faulty equipment to prevent fresh oil spills while environmental restoration efforts continue.
