Nigeria's new acting president, Goodluck Jonathan, is attempting to breathe life into the nation's ailing energy sector just two days after assuming the duties of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who has been out of the country since November with health problems.

Mr. Jonathan summoned several executives from foreign oil companies on Thursday to meet with top Nigerian officials. A focal point of the talks: militants who have sabotaged pipelines, disrupting production and oil prices.

Mr. Jonathan is Nigeria's first president from an ethnic minority or the Niger Delta—an area the size of England that is rich in oil but long plagued by poverty and violence against the energy industry. That ethnic background could help him work with militants in consolidating the peace process, say officials and analysts.

"There's concern that the militants are getting irritated and worried," said Emmanuel Egbogah, the president's oil adviser.

Under the peace program that began last summer, the Nigerian government has essentially paid militants to lay down their arms. However, the delta's main militant group recently called off its cease fire because of its unhappiness over how little money the government is putting into the region.

Wale Tinubu, chief executive of Oando PLC, Nigeria's biggest nonstate energy company by revenue and oil production, said he thinks Mr. Jonathan's ascent to power could spur the reconciliation process between the government and militants.

"Jonathan will make a renewed push towards peace in the Delta and I do believe that will reassure investors in the oil industry," said Mr. Tinubu who wasn't at Thursday's government meeting. Executives from Chevron Corp., ExxonMobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC, among other companies, attended the meeting with government officials, according to Mr. Egbogah, the government oil adviser.

Read More: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704337004575059513069700470.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

God bless Goodluck Jonathan!!! Day 2 hitting the ground running

More:

Nigeria's acting president swears in officials:
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5525623-146/nigerias_acting_president_swears_in_officials.csp

Anti-Graft War - Jonathan Summons, Waziri, EFCC Boss:
http://allafrica.com/stories/201002110302.html

Finally Nigeria has a President

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

I hope he will be allowed to carry out all these and more.

I hope he is a good presido,let he bring robust changes even for a year

Goodluck Jonathan should change his name to Magic Jonathan., with the kind of expectations Nigerians are vesting on him.

Nigeria has a President eventually, I hope he will continue the recommendations of the amnesty program so as to boost Nigeria's foreign and gas reserve-which is needed to power the turbines.

I heard Goodluck Jonathan is a lazy man but I hope he gets off his lazy butt and actually work now
that he's been sworn in as president.

let us watch naija regain its glory.this is the tip of the iceberg on what nigeria missed by denying the south-east and south-south the position of president.i believe so much that this man can perform miracles in one year.

Let me quiet first. I can remember all the noise I made when Yaradua was appointed as president.I had so much faithh that he would do well cos of his educational background. So, make I just they watch and pray for Goodluck until his 100days in office after which the direction of his boat will get clearer.

mama-gee:

I heard Goodluck Jonathan is a lazy man but I hope he gets off his lazy butt and actually work now
that he's been sworn in as president.

how can u say such! what will you say about Yar'adua if you call Goodluck lazy

mama-gee:

I heard Goodluck Jonathan is a lazy man but I hope he gets off his lazy butt and actually work now
that he's been sworn in as president.

tell me how he could cope with baba go-slow without slowing himself.naija has been stagnant for three years.

oge4real:

Let me quiet first. I can remember all the noise I made when Yaradua was appointed as president.I had so much faithh that he would do well cos of his educational background. So, make I just they watch and pray for Goodluck until his 100days in office after which the direction of his boat will get clearer.

The next day Yar'adua was sworn in, we didnt hear of any activities i said then we don make mistake

@oge4real i'm sure Goodluck will move Nigeria forward i'm positive

i so much believed in obj that i almost had a street mass beating.he ended up under-performing.

Abagworo:

i so much believed in obj that i almost had a street mass beating.he ended up under-performing.

I dont think OBJ under-perform, he can only do so much. He did his best and laid the ground for the present democracy _{even though its wack} but na something

He should settle the militancy issue first. Of what use is it to meet with the executives of those multinationals when they don't have a safe and secure environment to operate. First things first!

tell me how he could cope with baba go-slow without slowing himself

good point there. . . .a vice is supposed to be unassuming

try being unassuming to someone as slow as yar adua

The Goodluck Prayer

Our President, who art in Aso Rock

Goodluck be thy Name,

thy promotion come,

thine will be done,

in Lagos as it is in the Niger Delta.

Give us this day 24 hours power supply

And forgive us our expectations,

as we forgive you for your double promotion

Lead us not into Visionless 2020, but deliver us from PDP.

For thine is the Presidency,

the convoy, and the glory,

for now until Umoru returns (if ever). Amen.

http://idrisayobello..com/2010/02/nigerians-prayer.html

At last a breath of fresh air

A step in the right direction.

I hope the focus would be on oil refineries