Niger Delta leaders have announced their decision not to participate in the nationwide protest scheduled for August 1. They have urged all citizens, especially the youth, to maintain calm and avoid escalating tensions both regionally and nationally.
This resolution was made today at the Niger Delta Sensitization Conference for Ethnic Nationalities, Youths, and Women Groups held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The conference, chaired by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and featuring Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON, as Special Guest of Honour, emphasized the need for regional and national stability.
Read the full communique below:
A COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A NIGER DELTA SENSITIZATION CONFERENCE FOR ETHNIC NATIONALITIES, YOUTHS AND WOMEN GROUPS HELD ON TUESDAY, 30TH JULY 2024 IN PORT HARCOURT, RIVERS STATE.
The conference with the particular essence of addressing certain sensitive issues affecting our region, and country, Nigeria, had in attendance ethnic nationalities, youth leaders, and women groups from across the nine states of the Niger Delta Region.
The conference was chaired by the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and had the President of the Senate, His Excellency, Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON, as Special Guest of Honour.
The Chairman of the Board of the NDDC, Mr. Chiedu Ebie gave the welcome address with a keynote presentation by the MD/CEO of the NDDC, Chief Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and goodwill messages from the people of the region.
Various speakers at the conference reiterated the need for peace in the region and to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which holistically captures the needs and aspirations of the Niger Delta region.
The conference also discussed the planned nationwide protest over the current economic challenges in the country. It reviewed the pros and cons of the protest and acknowledged the right of citizens to protest. While recognizing the high cost of goods and the difficulties faced by ordinary Nigerians in meeting their basic needs, the conference noted the specific issues faced by the Niger Delta region, including the history of past years of agitation, crises, and other challenges.
The conference concluded that while the right to protest is a democratic right, given the current global economic context, a nationwide protest could be counterproductive.
Furthermore, the conference noted the appeals of the Senate president, the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives and the leadership of the NDDC and having regard for the sustainable development projects and programs being initiated by the NDDC, such as the community and rural infrastructure development projects, the Operation Light-Up the Niger Delta – Solar Light
Projects amongst others, all of which are part of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals No. 11, aimed at eradicating poverty and creating wealth in our region, as well as the extra funding of the 2024 budget of the NDDC with an additional N1T.
Consequently, the people of the Niger Delta unanimously resolved not to participate in the planned nationwide protest and called on all citizens, especially the youth, not to exacerbate tension in the region and the country.
The conference further highlighted the impact of the Oil and Gas activities over the years against the paradoxical and dire socio-economic situation in the region and expressed the need for the government and the management of the NDDC to address these issues expeditiously.
Conference noted that since the budget of the NDDC has been approved, action should be expedited on the release of funds to execute critical projects for the benefit of the Niger Delta people.
Conference gladly welcomed the announcement of the setting up of a Communique Implementation Committee (CIC) to interface with Government at all levels, on behalf of the Niger Delta people, on the outcomes of the just concluded stakeholders Summit held in Port Harcourt.
Conference agreed that a high-powered delegation of the Niger Delta people should visit Mr. President to discuss the issues of the region and the outcomes of the last Stakeholders Summit.
Conference also applauded the pronouncement by the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, on the commencement of the Youth Internship Scheme where Ten Thousand (10,000) Niger Delta Youths will receive Fifty Thousand (N50,000) Naira each monthly.
Conference thanked the Board and Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission for their current efforts in rewriting the narrative of the past and providing commendable leadership.
This Communique was unanimously adopted by Conference this 30th of July 2024 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
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