Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for the Niger Delta, declaring that the long-standing Ogoni crisis is finally giving way to visible progress in infrastructure, employment and environmental remediation.

The Governor made this known on Monday, December 22, 2025 while hosting a high-powered federal delegation led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.

The delegation included the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi; the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal; and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPCL) Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari.

Governor Fubara credited President Tinubu with the courage to confront issues that had remained unresolved for over three decades, stressing that acknowledging the President’s effort was a duty for all who desire the progress of Rivers State.

“Thanking Mr. President is the first thing that everyone who truly loves this state should do. For over 30 years, one particular issue has always been a recurrent problem. I want to thank him for having the boldness, the determination and the toughness to say, ‘let us start from somewhere,’” the Governor said.

He noted that renewed engagement with the Ogoni people is already yielding tangible benefits, particularly in employment, as more Ogoni indigenes are now being absorbed into the NNPCL under a more secure and trusting framework.

“Today, we have more men and women of Ogoni extraction already employed in NNPCL. Somehow, maybe we didn’t manage our situation very well and it slipped off, but I’m happy today that assurance, support and encouragement is actually coming back,” he stated.

Reflecting on the past, Governor Fubara observed that such opportunities were previously denied because locals were often perceived as a threat to the corporation, a narrative he said is now changing.

On infrastructure, the Governor highlighted significant improvements on major federal roads, particularly the East-West Road, noting that critical sections previously notorious for gridlock are now motorable.

In the education sector, Governor Fubara announced that the Federal University of Environment has commenced its admissions processes, describing it as part of broader confidence-building measures that also include new hospitals and an industrial park.

The Governor also issued a strong appeal to youths in oil-bearing communities to allow access for oil spill repairs, warning that obstruction only undermines environmental recovery efforts.

“If there are cases of spillage and the operators need to go and repair, we should allow them. If you don’t, it is still bringing us back to square one. These wells are old and, due to age, they might have natural default,” he said.

He explained that the new owners of Shell assets had approached him to intervene, not for fresh operations, but to prevent further environmental degradation.

Assuring the NSA of Rivers State’s commitment to peace and development, Governor Fubara urged patience as the state adjusts to long-delayed progress.

In his response, NSA Nuhu Ribadu conveyed President Tinubu’s appreciation for the cooperation of the Rivers State Government, noting that the peace currently enjoyed in the state is the product of sustained collaboration between state and federal authorities.

Describing Ogoniland as a symbol of national renewal, Ribadu said, “Ogoni is looking like a turning point for Nigeria today. A new chapter is being opened. Nigeria will not be what it used to be again. Things are changing, and it is starting with Ogoniland.”

Also speaking, the Minister of Works, Chief Dave Umahi commended Gov. Siminalayi Fubara for the support in the ongoing work on the East-West road, enumerating various projects that the Tinubu administration has embarked in the Niger Delta. He also announced that the President has directed that part of the coastal road should pass through the Ogoniland which his ministry is already preparing a design so as to commence work from that section in Rivers State.

The Minister of Environment, Hon. Balarabe Abbas Lawal further highlighted key accomplishments in the remediation efforts in Ogoniland, while the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari noted that the Corporation has engaged 30 Ogoni youths who are bid to resume in January 2026 as part of the commitment to job creation.