Nigeria to Criminalise 'Blood Oil'

Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe has said that the plan to criminalise ‘blood oil’ which had been the hallmark of the President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua’s administration has been launched internationally.

He said the Federal Government is ready to deal with people who might want to use the proceeds of oil for destructive purposes .
He said: “Our preparations for the United Nations General Assembly 63rd session focused on launching an international campaign to criminalise “Blood Oil”- oil bunkering and the use of its proceeds for destructive purposes as was the case with the “blood diamonds” in Angola, Sierra Leone and Liberia.

“The political will to resolve the Niger-Delta crisis is very much there. The President has made tremendous capacity in handling the situation of resolving the crisis. The issue of infrastructural development in Nigeria will not succeed if there is security problems.”

Maduekwe stated this while briefing the press on the outcome of the 63rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)held in New York at the end of September 2008 where he represented Yar’ Adua.

According to him, the Assembly endorsed the President Yar’ Adua’s initiative in creating the Ministry for Niger- Delta and lauded the administration’s determination to wipe out corruption in Nigeria.

He said: “There is absolute confidence in the international community that this administaration is capable of resolving the Niger- Delta crisis through the creation of the Ministry. There is no doubt whatsoever from the international ommunity except support and encouragement for Nigeria.”

“The news of the creation of Niger- Delta ministry was well appreciated and supported at the UN as such a country as Nigeria deserves every bit of encouragemnet for their role in Africa.

There is complete understanding and a vote of confidence in Nigeria in the handling of the Niger- Delta crisis,” he said.
According to Maduekwe, as a point of highlight for Nigeria at the Assembly, Nigeria was honored by being chosen as the Chairman of the most powerful committee in the UN- Economic and Financial Matters.

Author: Jo Amey