Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has charged the newly appointed General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major General Everest Okoro, to strengthen security operations across the Niger Delta, warning that economic growth cannot thrive where lives, businesses and critical assets are under threat.

Oborevwori gave the charge on Tuesday when Okoro, who is also the Land Component Commander of the Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, paid a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Asaba.

The governor said maintaining peace in the Niger Delta was not only a security responsibility but also an economic necessity, particularly because Delta State is one of Nigeria’s major oil-producing states.

Oborevwori urges new Army GOC to secure Niger Delta

He said the region’s oil and gas facilities, waterways, businesses and other critical infrastructure must be adequately protected to sustain economic activities and attract new investments.

“If this region is safe, the economy will go up. If there is unrest in this region, the economy will go down,” Oborevwori said.

The governor congratulated Okoro on his appointment and described the 6 Division as a strategic military formation with a major responsibility for maintaining peace and protecting economic assets across the region.

“I congratulate you on your new posting as the GOC 6 Division. This is a very strategic operational division. I pray for your guidance, wisdom and success during your time here,” he said.

Oborevwori said the relative peace being enjoyed in Delta was largely the result of cooperation between the state government and security agencies operating in the state.

He assured the new Army commander that his administration would continue to support the military and other security agencies in the state, particularly by providing the infrastructure and logistics required for effective operations.

“Delta State is very, very key to the economy of Nigeria, and we rely on the security agencies to do their work because the peace we are enjoying today is the result of collaboration between the state and the security agencies,” the governor said.

He noted that the state government had continued to support the Nigerian Army as part of efforts to strengthen security and create an environment where businesses could operate without fear.

Oborevwori disclosed that his administration recently constructed one-unit flats at the Amphibious Army Barracks in Agbor and had also provided logistical support to the 63 Brigade.

“This is just one of our initiatives among others to support the Nigerian Army. We assure you that we will continue to give you support and collaborate with the Nigerian Army for a safer and more prosperous region,” he said.

The governor urged Okoro to adopt a proactive approach to security and ensure that criminal elements were dealt with before their activities escalated into major threats.

He stressed that the protection of lives and property was directly connected to the ability of governments to attract investments, create employment and expand economic opportunities.

Oborevwori recalled his previous involvement with the Presidential Amnesty Programme and his working relationship with security agencies in the Niger Delta, saying the experience had strengthened his understanding of the importance of cooperation between civilian authorities and the military.

“I want to assure you that we will continue to work together,” he added.

The governor also commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their efforts in maintaining peace in Delta, assuring them of the state government’s continued cooperation.

Responding, Okoro said his visit was part of his familiarisation tour of military formations and units under his command following his assumption of office as the GOC, 6 Division.

The Army chief thanked Oborevwori for his support for security agencies in the state, particularly his administration’s contributions to infrastructure, welfare and operational needs.

Okoro described Delta as strategically important to Nigeria because of its oil and gas installations, waterways and other critical national assets located within the state.

He said protecting those assets would remain a major priority under his command, stressing that the security of the state was closely linked to the economic stability of the country.

According to him, the Army would work with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to identify and respond to emerging threats before they could undermine peace and economic activities.

Okoro said credible intelligence, realistic training and effective coordination among security agencies would be essential to tackling criminal activities in the Division’s area of responsibility.

He outlined his vision as safeguarding critical national assets, defeating security threats and ensuring that the Army successfully carried out its assigned missions through disciplined leadership, realistic training and seamless joint operations.

The GOC also commended the existing relationship between the Delta State Government and the Nigerian Army, especially the 63 Brigade, and called for the partnership to be sustained.

With Delta’s growing focus on attracting investment into sectors beyond oil and gas, the governor’s message underscored the importance of security in the state’s economic diversification plans.

For the state government, protecting communities, industrial facilities, roads, waterways and energy infrastructure remains central to creating the confidence required for investors to establish and expand businesses.

The meeting therefore placed security and economic development at the centre of the new military leadership’s engagement with Delta, with both the governor and the GOC emphasising the need for stronger collaboration.

As Okoro begins his tenure at the 6 Division, the expectation from the state government is that stronger intelligence gathering, joint operations and proactive security measures will help preserve the relative peace in Delta and protect the economic activities that depend on it.