The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has praised Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his “responsible leadership,” stating that President Bola Tinubu is pleased with the governor’s performance.
Ribadu made the remarks on Monday while leading a presidential delegation on a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt.
Ribadu commended Fubara for making Rivers State one of the most peaceful in the country. He said the Federal Government delegation was in the state to consolidate ongoing peace efforts in Ogoniland.
“A new chapter is unfolding in the Ogoni ethnic nationality of the state, stressing that Nigeria would no longer be what it used to be, with the transformation beginning from the area,” Ribadu said.
He added that President Tinubu specifically directed him to thank Fubara, noting that Tinubu was “happy with his leadership style and coordination of the discussion on the resumption of oil exploration in Ogoni.”
Ribadu also conveyed the President’s appreciation to the people of Ogoni “for their support, patience, and understanding.”
The NSA hailed the Rivers State government for providing a campus for the University of Environment and accommodating the South‑South Zonal Office of the Office of the National Security Adviser.
The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, described the Ogoni Peace Initiative as a strategic step toward renewed national unity.
He said President Tinubu takes a personal interest in the well-being of the Niger Delta people and assured that all affected sections of the East–West Road would be completed to standard.
Umahi disclosed that in Ogoniland, the 15‑kilometre Eleme axis of the East–West Road includes five flyovers, one of which is being constructed by the Rivers State Government to support the President’s efforts.
He said the over ₦200 billion project is scheduled for completion in April next year, adding that, with presidential approval, designs are ongoing to dualise the Bonny–Bodo Road and construct two flyovers.
Umahi also revealed that the President has ordered a redesign of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway to pass through Ogoniland.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, said the Ogoni clean‑up project remains a priority, explaining that the initiative recommended by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is progressing well.
He said the project includes mangrove restoration, healthcare delivery, human capital development, and women empowerment programmes.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulare, said the national oil company is fully committed to the Ogoni dialogue process, stressing that future focus would be on the people rather than oil.
Ojulare noted that the employment of 30 Ogoni indigenes by NNPCL has reached its final stage, with appointment letters already issued and resumption scheduled for January 2026.
In his response, Governor Fubara commended President Tinubu for intervening in the decades‑old Ogoni crisis, saying the action reflects the leadership of someone who genuinely cares for Rivers State.
He noted that resolving a crisis that had lingered for over three decades was no easy task.
“With the President’s intervention, residents can now drive with ease along both ends of the East–West Road, connecting Bonny and Bayelsa,” Fubara said.
He emphasised that beyond physical infrastructure, the President’s administration is rebuilding confidence in the region, reaffirming his commitment to supporting the peace process and managing emerging conflicts.
“Development cannot thrive in an atmosphere of crisis,” the governor added, urging that adjustments and compromises are necessary for sustainable progress.
Fubara also appealed to Ogoni leaders to engage youths to allow oil facility operators access to repair faulty equipment to prevent fresh oil spills while environmental restoration continues.