Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has said that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) is determined to check the challenge of oil theft in the country.

Fielding questions from journalists at the venue of the NGF meeting, yesterday night in Abuja, Governor Uduaghan said that the measures taken by the Forum to support the Federal Government are paying off.

According to him, the Forum had to do something after the shutdown of two major pipelines (Trans-Niger and Nembe) led to the combined loss of about 300,000 barrels per day.

“This resulted in the drop of our oil output from 2.5 million bpd to 2.1 million bpd. But as I speak today, the two pipelines vandalised and damaged have been repaired and re-opened,” he said.

Dr. Uduaghan said that the cooperation and vigilance of all Nigerians was necessary to check illegal oil bunkering which has drastically reduced the socio-economic potentials of the country.

Speaking on the participation of Delta State-born Blessing Okagbare at the on-going International Athletics Championships in Moscow, the governor expressed satisfaction at her performance. He commended Okagbare’s feat in clinching the silver medal in the Long Jump event.

Dr. Uduaghan promised that his administration will continue to support the athlete and other youth who are prepared to make a living out of sports.

Briefing newsmen after the Forum’s meeting, the vice chairman and Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, said that the NGF has resolved to streamline their position on the on-going review of the constitution and come up with a common position for the governors.

The governors also considered the current strike action by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and appealed to lecturers to call off the strike in the interest of the nation’s educational development.

•Photo (from right): Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi, Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, during the NGF’s meeting . . . yesterday night in Abuja.

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