LAGOS, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- A high-ranking official in Nigeria here on Saturday urged oil companies that left the country to return as the security situation in the oil-rich Niger Delta region has improved.

Ovie Omo-Agege, Nigeria's deputy senate president, said the return of the oil companies would speed up the development of the area, create job opportunities for youths and reinforce peace in the region.

The country depends on oil for 70 percent of government revenue and 90 percent of its foreign exchange earnings.

Oil companies which operated in the region were troubled by problems such as sabotage of oil pipes, theft of facilities and sometimes even kidnap of their personnel.

A recent lull in oil attacks is due to peace efforts of the federal and Rivers state governments, with more than 22,000 ex-militants surrendering their weapons, .

In June 2009, Nigeria offered amnesty to gunmen in the oil rich Niger Delta region who lay down their weapons in a bid to end unrest which has cost Africa's top oil exporter billions of dollars in lost revenue. Enditem

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