EFFURUN/Nigeria: Niger Delta youths under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Council and some concerned women in the oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta Region have threatened the Federal Government if the board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was not inaugurated within twenty-eight days of their protest.
The National Coordinator of the Council, Engr. Jator Abido, who spoke during a peaceful protest in Effurun, Delta State, on Thursday April 29th 2021 stated that if the board was not inaugurated on or before the end of April as promised by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the group will have no option than to carryout its threat and that there may affect economic activities like the protest of Endsars.
The protesters also criticized the Federal Government over the appointment of a Sole Administrator for the NDDC Board which they noted was made without consulting governors, stakeholders and youths in the nine states of the Niger Delta Region.
They also alleged that appointment of the sole administrator was “to serve the selfish goal of Akpabio, covering up with the forensic audits.”
They therefore called for the resignation of the Minister and the Sole Administrator of NDDC Board Mr Effiong Akwa over allegations of corruption leveled against him.
The protesters further urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to allow anti corruption agencies including the EFCC and ICPC “to carryout their duties without interruption and intimidation from the Presidency.”
They threatened that if the federal government cannot check the alleged frauds being carried out by the Minister and Sole Administrator, they will seek external help by calling in the international community ” to assist us in recovering their loots,” Abido added
He had earlier remarked that Niger Delta Region was the most peaceful regions and then noted that Federal Government was not appreciating the peace initiatives of the Niger Delta Youth Council and formidable youth groups in the region such as Ijaw Youth Council, Urhobo Youth Council, Ogoni Youth Movement amongst others.
