BENIN—The Norwegian government has said that it was ready to partner with the state governments of the Niger Delta in the area of security, energy and capacity building.

Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Tore Nedrebo, who disclosed this in Benin yesterday during a courtesy visit to Edo State deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, emphasized that such partnership would help to provide mutually reinforcing improvement in the democratic process.

He disclosed that he was in Edo State for a capacity building workshop aimed at improving governance in the Niger Delta and stressed that his country would draw up a programme that would bring stakeholders together to share relevant information regarding revenue management in the region.

He stated further that in the first three years of the programme, work on projects would focus on Delta, Bayelsa, Cross-River and Edo states, targeting senior administrators in the respective state ministries, oil and gas commission, state legislators, local governments, civil society and the media.

Responding, Edo State deputy governor, Dr. Pius Odubu, said that the state government has started an initiative in that direction.

While assuring the Ambassador of the state government support, Dr. Odubu noted that his mission to Edo State would complement government effort and expressed readiness to partner with Norwegian government in an effort to ensure transparency and accountability in governance

He thanked the ambassador who was led on the visit by the Executive Director, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice [ANEEJ], Rev. David Ugolor for his government’s concern for people of the Niger Delta.

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