The Federal Government has allayed fears that any harm may have come the way of the nine expatriate oil workers kidnapped by hostage-takers in the Niger Delta.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mrs Oluremi Oyo told newsmen on 21 February at the State House, Abuja that “ all I can tell you is that they are alive and well.”

She said that President Olusegun Obasanjo was concerned about the safety and continued detention of the hostages while information at the disposal of the Federal Government was that the crisis would soon be resolved.

Mrs Oyo expressed President Obasanjo’s confidence in the ability of the committee set up by the Federal government and headed by Governor James Ibori of Delta state to secure the release of the hostages.