The minister of Niger Delta affairs Chief Ufot Ekaette has called for invigorated cooperation with the international community to help develop and stabilise the region.

In an address earlier this week, Mr Ekaette said that in addition to the national energy firm Agip, the international oil and gas industry has a particularly important role in developing the region through training programmes and social funding initiatives.

"It will be of benefit to Nigeria and the Niger Delta, in particular, if issues of the region are presented at the global forum to attract further partnerships from other countries," he said.

His comments followed the signing of a new agreement with Italy in which the country will launch security training operations with Nigerian agencies in the region.

Franco Frattini, the country's foreign affairs minister, said that policemen would also be trained to protect pipelines in the Niger Delta region, while other agricultural and social development programmes will also be pursued.

Oil and Gas Directory: Training and Development