The Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Nsima Ekere has urged youths in the region to properly coordinate their activities to enable them benefit from Federal Government’s intervention programmes.
According to a statement, Ekere said this, while meeting with ex-agitators and youth leaders from the nine states of the Niger Delta, led by Isreal Eshanekpe, popularly known as “General Akpodoro’’.
Ekere also urged the youth to emulate Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) by forming similar group.
The PANDEF is the coordinating body of all elders and leaders in the Niger Delta.
PANDEF is being coordinated by a former Minister of Information, Chief Edwin Clark.
“I am insisting that the youth must have a similar body in order to be taken seriously,’’ he said.
The managing director expressed concern that investors had the notion that Niger Delta was unsafe, thereby relocating from the region.
He called on the youth to shun criminality, by giving peace a chance.
Ekere said there was the need for the youth and other stakeholders in the region to protect Federal Government’s assets as well as oil installations in their communities.
This, according to him, will go a long way in improving the nation’s economy and putting an end to the present economic recession being experienced in the country.
Ekere also urged people of the region and Nigerians in general to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari , adding that his administration had done well for the Niger Delta.
According to him, Buhari has good intentions for the people of the region and he is committed to the real transformation of Nigeria.
The NDDC boss assured that the commission was committed to the economic empowerment and development of the youth and other people of the Niger Delta.
He restated that the modular refineries to be established in the region would go a long way in improving the lives of people in the region.
Ekere said that the commission was established by the Federal Government to address the problems of underdevelopment in the Niger Delta region.
“In addition to developing the physical infrastructure of the region, the NDDC will develop the human capital in the region. One of the key areas of the development is the young people.
“The major reason for the meeting with the youth is to rub minds and agree on a sustainable economic empowerment for youths of the Niger Delta.
“When we talk about empowerment, it is not about giving money. We will not give you fish but we will teach you how to fish.
“The commission has been mandated by the Federal Government to work out the framework with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, so that youths of communities in the Niger Delta will be empowered through the establishment of modular refineries.’’
Ekere also stated that the commission would soon set up a specialised Niger Delta Development Bank to assist the youth and other people of the region to access funds to start up small businesses, while assuring that the terms would be friendly.
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