The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has said the diversion and misuse of funds meant for the Niger Delta over the years is the cause of the region’s current hardship.

Kachikwu said this while hosting some lawmakers from the Imo State House of Assembly, who recently visited him in Abuja.

The minister said the region would have experienced development if the funds had been used for its purposes.

Kachikwu also pleaded with militants in the group to stop destroying oil facilities and embrace peace.

He further said no region can grow if it continues to destroy economic assets and national infrastructures.

“No man destroys his economic potential and still prospers optimally,” he said.

The leader of the delegation, Ezediaro Uzoma, the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum, Imo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, said the essence of the visit was to express support for the minister.

Azeez