PRESIDENT YAR’DUA APPROVES BILLIONS FOR NIGER DELTA REGION.

A Shell rig in the region

Abuja (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s president, Umaru Musa Yar’dua is taking the amnesty deal sealed with Niger-Delta fighters seriously as his government Wednesday approved over N170 billion Naira for projects in the region.

Information minister, Prof. Dora Akinyuli lists the establishment of a new Oil and Gas Polytechnic in Bayelsa, an upgrade of the Petroleum Training Institute PTI, in Warri, Delta State and several other infrastructural projects that will be evenly distributed in the region.

The minister reiterated government’s commitment to peace and infrastructural development in the area and thanked all stakeholders for giving the government a chance.

MEND, a coalition of Niger Delta fighters had declared an oil war in the region because of it’s neglect by the government. Nigeria’s oil reserves are located in the region and it’s economy depends largely on proceeds from crude.