By Deborah Nnamdi
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has commended Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for what he described as responsible leadership, saying President Bola Tinubu is pleased with the governor’s performance.
Ribadu said Rivers State ranks among the most peaceful states in the country, attributing the calm to Fubara’s leadership style and commitment to dialogue. He spoke on Monday while leading a presidential delegation on a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
The delegation included the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, and top officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Ribadu said the visit was aimed at consolidating ongoing peace efforts in Ogoniland.
According to him, a new chapter is unfolding in the Ogoni ethnic nationality, stressing that Nigeria is entering a phase of transformation beginning in the area. He disclosed that President Tinubu personally directed him to thank Governor Fubara and convey the President’s happiness with his leadership and coordination of discussions on the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni.
The NSA also conveyed the President’s appreciation to the people of Ogoni for their patience, support, and understanding, while commending the Rivers State Government for providing a campus for the University of Environment and hosting the South-South Zonal Office of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Speaking further, Umahi described the Ogoni Peace Initiative as strategic to Nigeria’s renewed unity, noting that the President has taken personal interest in the well-being of the Niger Delta communities. He assured that all sections of the East–West Road across the region would be completed to standard.
Umahi disclosed that the 15-kilometre Eleme axis of the East–West Road in Ogoniland, which includes five flyovers, is part of a project valued at over ₦200 billion and scheduled for completion in April next year. He added that with presidential approval, designs are ongoing to dualise the Bonny–Bodo Road to the East–West Road, including the construction of two flyovers, and revealed that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is to be redesigned to pass through Ogoniland.
On his part, the Minister of Environment said the Ogoni clean-up project remains a top priority, explaining that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-recommended interventions are progressing well, covering mangrove restoration, healthcare delivery, human capital development, and women empowerment.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Bayo Ojulari, said the national oil company is fully committed to the Ogoni dialogue process, noting that future engagement would prioritize the people over oil. He disclosed that the employment of 30 Ogoni indigenes by NNPCL has reached the final stage, with appointment letters already issued and resumption slated for January 2026.
Responding, Governor Siminalayi Fubara thanked President Tinubu for what he described as a timely and sincere intervention, saying it reflected the actions of a leader who genuinely loves Rivers State. He noted that resolving a crisis that had persisted for over three decades in Ogoniland was not an easy task.
Fubara said the President’s intervention has improved mobility along both ends of the East–West Road, connecting Bonny and Bayelsa, and emphasized that beyond infrastructure, the administration is rebuilding confidence in the region. He reaffirmed his commitment to sustaining peace and managing emerging conflicts, stressing that development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of crisis.
The governor also appealed to Ogoni leaders to engage youths to allow oil facility operators access to repair faulty equipment to prevent fresh oil spills while environmental remediation is ongoing.
