Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has described the death of Mr. Tony Uranta, executive secretary of the advocacy group, United Niger Delta Energy Development and Security Strategy (UNDEDSS), as a painful loss to Nigeria, Niger Delta and the Ijaw nation.

Mr. Uranta, who was a member of the defunct Federal Government Technical Committee on Niger Delta, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) among others, passed on Wednesday after a protracted illness.

Diri, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, yesterday, said Uranta was a committed activist and advocate for environmental justice and good governance not only in his Niger Delta region but also in Nigeria.