Nigerian President cancels trip to Niger Delta

Nigeria’s President Buhari is reported to have cancelled his trip to the oil producing area of Niger Delta and instead Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo will be heading out to the southern region of Nigeria reports local media.

President Buhari was supposed to make a visit to the region today for a clean-up programme of the Ogoniland, one of the areas heavily affected by major oil spills from the oil production in the area. The clean-up was recommended by the United Nation Environment Programme, UNEP, in its report of 2011.

“It is the second time in less than two weeks that Mr. Buhari would cancel a scheduled event outside Abuja. On the night of May 22, the President suspended his scheduled official visit to Lagos State fixed for the morning of Monday, May 23, citing “scheduling difficulties” as reason.” Says The Premium Times.

The Delta region has been ravaged by violence with attacks on oil producing sites and pipes by the militant group , Niger Delta Avengers. The group is protesting the oil spills in the area and economic marginalisation by the government.. Buhari said on Sunday the government would hold talks with leaders in Nigeria’s main oil-producing region to address their grievances, in a bid to stop a surge in pipeline attacks according to Reuter

“The southern Delta swamps have been hit by a series of militant attacks on oil and gas pipelines which have brought Nigeria’s oil output to a 20-year low.” reports the Vanguard

This was to be the first visit of the former military ruler to the Delta since taking office in May last year.

Source: cctv-africa.com