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Niger Delta: Military Gives Assurance on Security From Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The military high command yesterday said its men were ready to put a stop to the worrisome security problems in the oil-rich Niger Delta region. Receiving the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Funsho Kupolokun at the Defence Head quarters, Abuja, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Alexander Ogomudia, said the military has received the approval of President Olusegun Obasanjo to formally intervene in the crisis in order to check further security threat to lives and oil exploration activities in the area. He said the military intends to embark on amphibious training of its men involved the operation as part of arrangements between Nigeria United States, Britain and Germany. The acquisition of the new skills will further place the officers in advantaged position to clamp down on criminals operating in the difficult terrain of the creeks. Kupolokun told the army chief that though recently, the country has made significant impact in checking vandalisation and crude oil theft, much still needed to be done to halt the huge economic loss it has imposed on the nation. For instance, Nigeria lost close to N8 billion from about 300,000 barrels of crude oil stolen by criminals in 2003 alone, he said, adding that he decided to pay the visit to seek better understanding and co-operation in fighting the scourge. Giving further assurances on military preparedness, the CDS said the Federal Government, had to call in the armed forces following persistent outburst of youth crisis and attacks by criminal-minded elements targeted at the nation's oil installations. "It was in the wake of heightening security problems in the Niger Delta which resulted in the threat by some foreign oil companies to withdraw from operating in the region, that government approved the involvement of the military to help arrest the situation", he said. He noted that the role of the armed forces in guaranteeing security Nigeria can said to be only complementary to that of those placed in-charge of the day-today running of the various sectors of the country's economy like the NNPC. Who Are We ? | About THISDAYOnLine.com | THISDAY People | Contact Us © Copyright 2000 Leaders & Company Limited

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