- Niger Delta Militants
The Niger Delta Youth Movement has cautioned Niger Delta Avengers against bombing oil pipelines and installations in the Niger Delta region.
The continued bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta region, according to the group would scare investors from the area, resulting in economic loss to the region.
National President of the group, Mr. Joe Jackson, on Tuesday, also urged Federal Government not to match fire for fire, but should start negotiating with the aggrieved groups.
“We condemn the continued bombing of oil installations in Niger Delta region: it is not for our interest; the act is likely to ruin the economy of the region,” he said.
Besides, the group called for better funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC; Presidential Amnesty Programme; Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, among others.
Jackson maintained that the sums of N41bn provided for NDDC and N20bn for presidential amnesty programme were too small for the development of the already polluted Niger Delta region.
Apart from the demand for the FG to commence the cleanup of Ogoni land and other oil polluted communities in Niger Delta, Jackson also asked the FG to constitute NDDC board.
His words: “We call on the governors, National Assembly members and all concerned stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to rise up against the contrived emasculation of the region as exemplified in the 2016 budget as it concerns federal government institutions and the people of Niger Delta.
“We urgently call on all major multinationals to pay their statutory contributions to bodies and agencies like the NDDC and their host communities for the sake of peace and development of the region.
“We are in total support of the fight against corruption by the Buhari-led Federal Government, but we advise that it should be fairly done to take away the perception that it is targeted at political enemies.
“We demand the FG to urgently constitute the NDDC Board in order to stop some of the chaos as regards the zoning of some offices among different ethnic groups.”
He stated that since the removal of the former NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Dan Abia, and replacement with Madam Ibim Seminitari in acting capacity, there has been tension in the region as regards which state should have the slot.
They also called on the FG to begin academic programmes at Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.
