No peace in the Niger Delta, no money in Nigeria's pocket. That was the blunt message from Asaba.

Look, if you know anything about Nigeria's economy, you know Delta State isn't just any state — it is the economy.

So, when Delta Governor Sheriff Oborevwori sat down with the new big man at 6 Division yesterday, he didn't mince words.

According to cbinews.tv, the Governor told the newly appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC), 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Major-General Everest Okoro, to get straight to work — sustain proactive operations, work with other agencies, and protect lives, property and those all-important economic assets across the South-South.

It was a courtesy visit at Government House, Asaba, but with a very serious undertone.

“I congratulate you on your new posting as the GOC 6 Division. This is a very strategic operational division,” Oborevwori said, promising continued support from the state government.

And he has a point about strategic.

Why 6 Division and Delta matter so much

For context, 6 Division isn't old. It was carved out of 82 Division and established on 7th November 2016, later officially put at 8th November 2016, specifically to organise internal security operations across four Niger Delta states — Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta.

Its original mandate? Tackle pipeline vandalism, militancy, cultism and illegal oil bunkering.

And Okoro is taking over at a sensitive time. He is the 12th GOC of the Division, replacing Maj.-Gen Emmanuel Emekah. Under Emekah, oil production reportedly rose from about 1.3 million barrels per day when he assumed office on 24th January 2025, to 1.5 million bpd by handover. Okoro has already pledged to strengthen protection of critical oil and gas infrastructure.

Now, why Delta is always in that conversation:

Latest NUPRC data shows Delta contributed 99.9 million barrels between November 2023 and September 2024 — more than one-third of Nigeria's total production of 295.34 million barrels in that period. The state government itself says Delta is today Nigeria's highest oil producer and 4th largest economy overall.

No wonder Oborevwori said it plainly: “Delta State is very, very key to the economy of Nigeria... If this region is safe, the economy will go up. If there is unrest in this region, the economy will go down.”

What Delta is doing to help

The Governor, who recalled his own past involvement with the Presidential Amnesty Programme, said peace in Delta today is down to collaboration.

And he says his administration is putting money where its mouth is — recently building one-unit flats at the Amphibious Army Barracks in Agbor and providing sustained logistics to 63 Brigade in Delta.

“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,” he told the Army chief, as reported by cbinews.tv.

For his part, Gen. Okoro, who is also Land Component Commander, Joint Task Force South-South, Operation Delta Safe, said his priorities are clear — safeguarding critical national assets and defeating threats in his area of responsibility through credible intelligence, realistic training and seamless joint operations.

Let's be honest, in a region where crude theft, illegal refining and waterway crimes have historically cost Nigeria billions, that collaboration is everything.

Credit: Original report from cbinews.tv

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