Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission Dr Samuel Ogbuku, have called on youths and people of the region to shun the planned August 1 protest against economic hardship.
This follows Akpabio’s launch of a Youth Internship Scheme initiated by the NDDC for 10,000 youths from the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during the NDDC Executive Management Engagement with Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities and Selected Stakeholders in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Akpabio declared that the proposed nationwide protests by some youths would not take place in the nine states of the Niger Delta, describing the region as protest-free zone.
Detailing the Youth Internship Scheme, the Senate President said, “the 10,000 youths would be engaged in the programme designed to improve their skills, noting that the beneficiaries in the first phase would be paid N50,000 monthly.”
Akpabio stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the development of the Niger Delta region. He noted that following a presidential directive, the NDDC recently inaugurated five flagship projects covering roads, bridges, and electricity across the region.
He commended the NDDC for restoring some damaged sections of the East-West Road and assured that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project would not only commence from Lagos but would also start simultaneously from the Niger Delta.
Akpabio added that despite the challenges of developing the Niger Delta region, the NDDC had executed several projects that had improved the lives of the people, promising that henceforth, the Commission would receive its full share of statutory allocations.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, assured that the Commission would continue to focus on completing capital projects that would add value to the Niger Delta region.
Ebie said, “Our commitment is to work towards transforming the region, in line with the 8-Point Presidential Priorities, as well as in accordance with the demands of the NDDC Act of 2000.”
He thanked members of the National Assembly for expeditiously passing the 2024 budget of the Commission, which would set the tone for the implementation of projects and programmes benefiting the people of the Niger Delta region.
Speaking, the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, remarked that the people of the Niger Delta region had transitioned from militant agitation to intellectual struggle, noting that the region was now reaping the benefits of these struggles.
He said, “We have provided more opportunities and hope to Niger Delta youths through our Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement, designed to identify youths’ interests for skills training.”
The NDDC boss said that Project HOPE had helped the Commission develop a comprehensive digital repository, comprising important information about the youths of the Niger Delta region, including their qualifications, skills, interests, needs, and current employment status.
Ogbuku remarked that the NDDC was working with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to train youths and young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region.
He explained that the Commission would collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce to support Small and Medium Enterprises in the region and ensure the sustainability of youth development programmes.
“We will also partner with the Bank of Industry to fund projects, support businesses, and facilitate the success of our empowerment programmes. We will provide all necessary support for youth entrepreneurship schemes,” he added.
Ogbuku urged Niger Deltans not to be lured into any protest that could destabilise the country, as such actions would hinder development and further impoverish the ordinary people.
In his goodwill message, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, stressed that progress could only be achieved through unity and peace.
He lauded the Board and Management of the NDDC for working hand-in-glove to develop the Niger Delta region.
Similarly, the National Chairman of PANDEF, Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien, acknowledged the numerous achievements of the NDDC and appealed to Niger Delta youths to disregard those calling for protests.
The President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Jonathan Lopkobiri, maintained that Niger Deltans had no business with those inciting youths to anarchy. He observed that the protesters’ demands did not address the long-neglected East-West Road.
He commended the NDDC for providing relief to users of the road, which he noted was still threatened by flooding.