South-South youths have informed the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, of their intention to resume protests to demand a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In August, under the umbrella of the South-South Youths Initiative (SSYI), the youths had occupied the headquarters of the NDDC in Port Harcourt.
However, they had suspended their protest following the intervention of the State’s Police Commissioner, Friday Eboka, but vowed to return if the Federal Government failed to inaugurate the board.
In a letter addressed to the Minister, signed by the SSYI National President, Saviour Oscar and the National Secretary-General, Nyakno Otu, the group said regrettably that the government had refused to inaugurate the board.
According, “It is regrettable that to date the government has not deemed it necessary to act. This we see as neglect on the dignity of the region.
“As a body ready to ensure that our region gets a fair deal, we are resolute to sustain the action against the NDDC, until our demands are met. We are not asking for much, we are only requesting that the right thing be done in the NDDC.”
“We are not happy that the agency is still being run contrary to the Act establishing it. This has caused a lot of setbacks to the region.
“An unconstitutional administration can never be right in the sight of the law. This is why we are insisting that a substantive board be constituted.
“We are urging you, the Honourable Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, to task President Muhammadu Buhari to hear us out. We are calling on President Buhari, who promised that issues affecting the people of Niger Delta would top his priority, to act now and constitute a board for the commission.
“We are giving one month for the Federal Government to act and set up the board of NDDC. If this is not achieved within the period, Niger Delta youths will resume and shut down the facility until our demands are met.”
