As outrage continued to greet the abduction of over 200 girls in Chibok, Borno state more than three weeks ago, President Goodluck Jonathan has received firm commitment from the President of the International Criminal Police Organisation, INTERPOL, Mrs. Mireille Ballestrazzi, that the organisation will fish out the girls wherever they may be around the world.
President Jonathan, who disclosed this on Saturday at Oporoza, in Gbaramatu Kingdom of Delta State, also reassured Nigerians that the girls cannot be sold as threatened by the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau in recent video clip.
The President was in Gbaramatu Kingdom to perform the groundbreaking ceremonies of the NIMASA Shipyard and Dockyard at Okerenkoko and Nigeria Maritime University at Kurutie, under the auspices of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).
Jonathan used the occasion to again, thank the international community for rising up in unison to condemn the abduction as well as resolving to fish out the girls wherever them may be.
He told the people of Ijaw nation that “the international community is angry with the whole thing. We have support from other countries; we promise the world that we must get the girls out.
“I am very pleased with the support coming from the United States, the United Kingdom, France the Republic of China, Israel, Spain and others.
“I am happy with the cooperation we are getting from our neighbouring countries, Cameroon, Niger ,Chad and Benin, we are totally committed to making sure that we these girls out.
“The story that they have sold them definitely they cannot buy any of those girls.
“I just had a communication with the President of INTERPOL who said they are ready to key with the Nigerian government to search the whole world. Wherever these girls are, we must get them.
“And I believe that no sane person will attempt to kill those girls”.
On the twin projects that brought him to the community, the President expressed delight that development can now take place in the Niger Delta because the people have embraced peace.
He recalled his last visit to Gbaramatu Kingdom in 2007 to negotiate for amnesty, saying “I was here the on a journey when nobody could smile. It was a very tense situation because there were so many crises in this part of the country.
“That tells us clearly that without peace, there will not be development on earth. Collectively, we will rebuild this community now that there is peace”.
“We are pleased with this community, we are pleased with the Niger Delta for now, generally Niger Delta is relatively peaceful and that is why development is now coming in”.
Speaking on the importance of the projects, the President noted that on completion, jobs would be generated while the University would enhance capacity building in the maritime sector.
He therefore, called on the sons and daughters of the region to take advantage of the various programmes available in NIMASA and Amnesty Office to enhance their skills.
President Jonathan spoke further, “Of course, we know the importance of these projects, the maritime University, the Shipyard and the Dockyard. The establishment of Maritime University will really help because the issue of manpower is key.
“This is a good thing; it will help significantly to produce the required manpower for the Blue Economy”(maritime economy).
“I want our boys and girls to key into the training programmes of NIMASA and other programmes in Amnesty Office to improve on their skills so that they can work anywhere in the world,” saying the marine business is a global business.
The President also reacted to the issue of bunkering raised by the President of Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) in his goodwill message, reiterating government’s commitment to putting a stop to bunkering.
According to him, “We have been totally committed to reducing bunkering. I will plead with Nigerians who are involved in bunkering to leave that business. You must leave bunkering.
“We must collectively say no to bunkering, say no to crude refinery that takes place in our land. It is not going to help us, it is going to destroy the environment and we must collectively say no and government must stop it and we are working on that”
Speaking earlier, the host Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, had canvassed maximum support for the President as he tackles the challenges confronting the nation.
While thanking other regions for supporting Jonathan in 2011, he also solicited for continued support beyond 2015, calling on those fanning the embers of disunity to desist.
“We must come together to give maximum support to Mr. President. We must continue to support him beyond 2015. Mr. President, you have our maximum support,” he assured.
Uduaghan also thanked the President for citing the Maritime University in Delta, expressing optimism that he would be around again to commission the permanent site during his second term in office.
The Minister of Transport, Idris Umar, in his welcome address thanked the President for his support for the transport sector, saying the two projects would boost the maritime sub-sector on completion.
Also speaking, the Director-General of NIMASA, Ziakede Patrick Akpobolokemi, said the two projects are parts of the four-point agenda that he put forward on assumption of office.
The event was attended by Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state, members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers from Gbaramatu Kingdom, including Government Tompolo.
