This is bigger than just Shell. The challenge for the Nigerian government and the military is to bring this under control without making the situation worse.

Nigeria, for all its difficulties, offers quite a bit.

While the army is deployed to address the security situation in the delta, there hasn't been a political initiative to deal with the underlying causes of tension and instability in the region.

We are hopeful that we will be able to save the government.

I have said to the prime minister that if the military came out the image of ... the government would be hurt.

The military operations must stop and we expect the government to create a congenial atmosphere for the talks. Or else we shall not sit for talks.