Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Monday paid a high-level visit to Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, bearing a clear message from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: the President is pleased with the governor’s responsible and measured leadership.
Ribadu made this known during a courtesy call at the Government House, Port Harcourt, where he led a presidential delegation comprising senior cabinet members and top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). He described Rivers State as one of the most peaceful in the federation, a development he attributed to constructive leadership and sustained dialogue.
“Mr President asked me to thank you. He is very happy with you,” Ribadu told Governor Fubara, noting the President’s satisfaction with the manner in which the state government has handled sensitive discussions around the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.
According to the NSA, a new chapter is opening in Ogoni, with far-reaching changes expected to take root in the area after decades of tension and neglect. He expressed appreciation to the Ogoni people for their patience, resilience, and continued commitment to peace, stressing that their cooperation has created the enabling environment for meaningful progress.
The visit also underscored the Federal Government’s renewed focus on infrastructure development and environmental remediation in the Niger Delta. Ribadu announced that major projects are underway, including the completion of the over N200 billion Eleme axis of the East–West Road—featuring five flyovers—by April 2026.
Further plans include the dualisation of the Bonny–Bodo Road with two flyovers, as well as the rerouting of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway through Ogoniland, a move expected to significantly boost connectivity and economic activity in the region.
On environmental restoration, the delegation highlighted ongoing progress in the Ogoni cleanup, with several initiatives aligned with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recommendations. These include large-scale mangrove restoration, improved healthcare delivery, and targeted women empowerment programmes.
In a significant gesture aimed at deepening local participation, NNPCL announced its commitment to employ 30 Ogoni indigenes, with appointments scheduled to take effect when operations resume in January 2026.
Other members of the delegation included the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi; the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Lawal; and senior NNPCL officials—reinforcing the breadth of federal engagement as the government seeks to translate peace in Ogoniland into lasting development and shared prosperity.
