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Tag: Niger Delta youths

  • 300 Niger Delta youths graduate from NDDC technical skills programme

    300 Niger Delta youths graduate from NDDC technical skills programme

    No fewer than 300 youths from the Niger Delta region have graduated from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Technical Skills Training Programme across various fields of specialisation.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony held at the NDDC event centre in Port Harcourt, the Commission’s Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Victor Antai, said the initiative was part of efforts to curb youth restiveness, create jobs, and reduce poverty in the region.

    Representing the Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, Antai explained that the training—covering pipe fitting, scaffolding, forklift operations, and sandblasting—was designed to fill critical manpower gaps in the oil and gas industry.

    According to a statement signed by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, the programme reflects the Commission’s commitment to building human capacity in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    He said, “It is noteworthy that we are gathered to celebrate the graduation of youths from the Niger Delta region who have been trained to acquire skills in pipe fitting, scaffolding, forklift operations, sand blasting to learn and to benefit from a programme such as this. This is in line with the Provisions of Section 7 of the NDDC Establishment Act 2000, as amended.”

    He said that NDDC was committed to realising its mandate of human capacity development that would be sustainable and regenerative, noting that trainees from the nine states of the region participated in the training.

    Antai advised the graduands to remain focused, as the NDDC invested a considerable amount of money to train them in the various areas to produce worthy trained personnel for various industries that require skills in oil and gas, and manufacturing.

    Read Also: UN, NDDC collaborate on Niger Delta sustainable development goals

    He added that the development would further lead to a decrease in the demand for white collar jobs, development in the SMEs among others, in line with the ideals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    He described the graduands as pioneers and ambassadors of the NDDC, part of the fulfilment of the current NDDC board’s vision to restore hope to the people of the region.

    The Director, Commercial and Industrial Development, Mrs. Lyna Okara, said the training programme was well thought out to address the needs of the oil and gas industry.  

    In a goodwill message, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Mr. Timothy Iyenabo urged the graduands. to develop a road map towards upscaling and training others.

    The ceremony, which was witnessed by the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, Director, Agriculture and Fisheries, Dr Winifred Madume and other NDDC Directors, featured the presentation of certificates to the graduands.

  • Niger Delta youths demand transparency on Port Harcourt refinery’s status

    Niger Delta youths demand transparency on Port Harcourt refinery’s status

    The Niger Delta Youth Network (NDYN) has expressed grave concern and disappointment over the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) inability to commence production at the Port Harcourt refinery in Rivers State despite numerous promises and six postponements as of August 2024.

    In a statement by Dakuku Francis, the group said this recurring failure confirms that a cabal within the NNPCL is deliberately scheming to exploit the region’s crude oil producers.

    The latest broken promise came from NNPCL’s Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, who assured that the refinery would begin operations in September 2024.

    However, after September, the NNPC has failed to provide any updates on the refinery’s status.

    The Port Harcourt refinery with a capacity of 210,000 barrels per day, was touted to be a beacon of hope for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. After reaching mechanical completion of rehabilitation work in December, the facility was expected to start refining 60,000 barrels of crude oil daily.

    The group alleged that Mele Kyari, the Managing Director of NNPCL, plans to utilise the Port Harcourt refinery as a blending company.

    The Niger Delta youths demanded answers and action from the company, citing concerns that the repeated delays are part of a larger plot to exploit the region’s resources.

    Francis lamented that the failure to provide a clear timeline for the commencement of fuel production has created uncertainty and distrust among stakeholders.

    He said the NNPCL’s silence on the reasons behind the repeated delays and broken promises has raised questions about the company’s commitment to the region’s development.

    The youths are concerned that the company’s actions may be driven by a desire to maintain the status quo, where crude oil is exported and refined abroad, rather than benefiting the local economy.

    Read Also: Shettima unveils initiative to combat malnutrition

    Francis said: “The NNPCL’s lack of transparency and accountability has exacerbated regional tensions. We are demanding answers and action from the company, the repeated delays are part of a larger plot to exploit our region’s resources.

    “The failure to provide a clear timeline for the commencement of fuel production has created uncertainty and distrust among stakeholders. The NNPCL’s silence on the reasons behind the repeated delays and broken promises has raised questions about the company’s commitment to the region’s development.

    “The Niger Delta region, which produces the majority of Nigeria’s crude oil, deserves fair treatment and equitable benefits from the country’s oil and gas resources. The NNPCL’s actions, or lack thereof, threaten the region’s economic development and perpetuate a sense of marginalization.”

    In light of these concerns, the Niger Delta youths are calling for urgent action from the NNPCL.

    Francis said: “The company must provide a clear and realistic timeline for the commencement of fuel production at the Port Harcourt refinery.

    “Additionally, the NNPCL must explain the repeated delays and broken promises, including any technical or financial challenges that may have arisen.

    “Moreover, the company must ensure transparency in its dealings with regional crude oil producers. This includes providing regular updates on the refinery’s progress, engaging with stakeholders, and addressing concerns in a timely and responsive manner.”

  • Niger Delta youths, ex-agitators distance selves from October 1 protest

    Niger Delta youths, ex-agitators distance selves from October 1 protest

    …pledge support for Tinubu govt., Amnesty boss

    Thousands of youths, including ex-agitators of the Niger Delta region on Friday, distanced themselves from the planned October 1, protest.

    They spoke at the end of a three-day interactive stakeholders’ forum with the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, in Effurun, Delta State.

    The youths and freedom fighters comprising Phase 1, 2, and 3 leaders and men of the Amnesty Programme, noted that protesting at a time when the Federal Government has shown readiness to develop the region would be detrimental to the good works underway for the area.

    Earlier, the Amnesty Boss assured the ex-agitators that President Bola Tinubu was interested in their welfare and development of the oil-rich region, further revealing that works would begin on the East-West Road soon.

    According to him, “Mr. President is interested in our budget increment to accommodate more people, more women more stakeholders.”

    Urging them to shun the planned protest, he said such protests may derail the peace and development plans for the area.

    Otuaro disclosed that the Programme is reviewing its academic education vocational training strategies to accommodate more beneficiaries.

    Read Also: Shelve protest, Niger Delta ex-agitators beg youths

    “My appeal to you is to continue to give Mr. President, me, your support. The President has goodwill towards the development of the Niger Delta. Especially the East-West Road, he has awarded the contract to a Chinese firm and they will start work very soon.

    “Those of us in this region are not going to be involved in any protest. We will continue to make the Niger Delta peaceful. The problems of the Niger Delta will be resolved by the President, but it is up to us to ensure our region is not used as a base for protests.

    “We have a responsibility to ensure that our region is peaceful. It is in our hands to keep the Niger Delta secure and support the Federal Government’s efforts to improve our communities,” he added.

    “Nobody can say that the reforms are not affecting our pockets, but these are going to fizzle out with time. The President means well for the Niger Delta, and we must support his efforts to bring development to our region,” Dr. Otuaro emphasized.

    The pioneer Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) President, Elder Timi Ogoriba, while noting that protesting was not alien to the Niger Delta people, added that the Federal Government is already aware of the needs of the region.

    “Protests started in 1939, April 1. Today, the Federal Government is aware of all that we need in the Niger Delta. Our protests have been made, so we want to give opportunities to our people who have been appointed to deliver the dividends of democracy.

    “Thank God, that Mr. President, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed the likes of our brother, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, to coordinate this Amnesty Programme that is bringing results. If you give him (Otuaro) peace, we know that he will do a lot,” Ogoriba stated.

    An ex-agitator leader, Paul Elvis, popularly known as General Ogubos, warned against joining the protest, stating thus: “Development cannot be attained in a society of war.”

    A participant, Emperor Joseph, a representative of the Human Rights community harped on providing comprehensive education, peace, and welfare plans to effectively address the region’s challenges.

    Some others, Ibena Rufus Salvation, Chief Yusuf Eregbene and Evang. Ogede Perkins, who spoke, endorsed the leadership of Dr. Otuaro and called on Niger Deltans to shun any protest.

  • Niger Delta youths coalition embarks on peace solidarity walk

    Niger Delta youths coalition embarks on peace solidarity walk

    Following the ongoing nationwide protest, a coalition of the Niger Delta youth stakeholders led by ‘General’ Bodmas Kemepadei has staged a solidarity and sensitisation walk on the East-West road to propagate peace and advise Niger Delta youths not to partake in the protest.

    The coalition, comprising various youth organisations from the region, urged the youths to maintain the existing peace enjoyed in the region despite the realities of the prevailing economic conditions confronting them in the country.

    The leader of the coalition, ‘General’ Bodmas Kemepadei, asserted that the “Niger Delta region is not part of the current nationwide protest of the #Endbadgovernance in Nigeria because the national call for a protest is not in the agenda of issues affecting the average persons in the region. 

    “The Niger Delta is a peculiar region and the demands of protesters in the North and other regions are not in consonance with the issues bedeviling our region, so we must shun the protest and embrace other strategies which are peaceful and sustainable to expressing our challenges.”

    Kemepadei, who led the anti-protest campaign and solidarity walk for peace on the East-West road reiterated the position of Niger Delta stakeholders whose demands are constructively about issues of the region which a peaceful negotiation would proffer solutions.

     He urged the people to maintain the existing peace in the region, noting that the region would not succumb to demonstration for the breakdown of law and order under the guise of protest against hunger.

    Also speaking, one of the women leaders of the coalition, Stella Ogu, said the people were deceived to hold protest against hunger and bad government.

    She, however, said the masterminds of the mass movement were not genuine because the East-West road, issues of flooding and other pertinent challenges in the region were not captured in the demands of those who incited the protest. 

    “We will not support our women, children and families to protest but we must look for channels and listen to stakeholders. But we are appealing to the government to help us because the issues of hunger and hardships are real and we are also victims,” Ogu said.

    Read Also: Niger Delta youths urge aviation operators to avoid unhealthy competition

    On his part, Comrade Timi Yagwe, said peace is essential for development hence they would not join the protest likewise other people of the region.

    He commended the genuine engagement of stakeholders in the region such as Dr. Dennis Otuaro, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku and other stakeholders for the engagements through expressing their positions that the region must not allow mischief makers, criminal elements, hoodlums and failed politicians to hijack the genuine process for a peaceful demonstration. 

    The coalition embarked on sensitization tours to shopowners, traders, motorists, travelers and others on the East-West road who were concerned that the protest was a bad idea for business and economic activities in the region. 

  • Niger Delta youths urge aviation operators to avoid unhealthy competition

    Niger Delta youths urge aviation operators to avoid unhealthy competition

    The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC), a socio-cultural group comprising youths of all ethnic nationalities in the Niger Delta, has called on operators in the aviation sector to avoid unhealthy competitions targeted at sabotaging rival airlines.

    The youths said the sector was crucial to the nation’s economy and particularly in the Niger Delta region where a lot of economic activities involving expatriates are domiciled.

    The group was responding to a report that 13 Nigerian airlines have been blacklisted by international aircraft lessors for various contract breaches, including Air Peace.

    In a statement by its national coordinator, Jator Abido, the group said Air Peace, “Nigeria’s airline of choice and other airlines are not blacklisted as alleged.”

    Read Also: Tinubu pays tribute to Olatunji Dare at 80

    The statement said: “Sadly enough, no such thing has happened as our investigation has revealed that those behind this fabrication are those who are intimidated by the towering business success of Air Peace and other airlines who are breaking into international destinations and gaining momentum by the day.

    “We frown at such barbaric tactics employed by other airlines operating in Nigeria including international carriers and beseech the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other regulators to act fast to forestall future occurrence as this is capable of causing panic amongst air travellers with adverse effects on the economy.”

    The group noted that since Air Peace went global and took business control over the London route and other promising international destinations, ending the cycle of exploitation of Nigerians, the airline has come under a series of attacks, especially by international carriers.

    It added: “This fresh media attack is not different from the price war launched by international airlines earlier in the year to put Air Peace out of business. The whole talk about contract breaches between lessors and the targeted Nigerian airlines is nothing but a decoy to create panic and reduce ticket sales.

    “If not a mischievous plot orchestrated to harm the reputation of burgeoning airlines, how could one explain the fact that lessors to over 13 airlines sat and decided to blacklist them at the same time? Even if this were to happen, did all the airlines breach their contract agreements at the same time? Can two contracts even be the same? This and many more questions beg for answers.”

    The group urged Nigerians not to fall for the cheap blackmail making the rounds from desperate competitors and continue to patronise Nigerian airlines especially Air Peace for both local and international travel as there is no atom of truth in the purported blacklisting of Nigerian airlines.

    “Fellow Nigerians, let us not fall to the cheap blackmail and propaganda that’s been peddled by our enemies. They simply want to push airlines like Air Peace out of business so they can resume their exploitation of innocent and unsuspecting Nigerians. Air Peace specifically owns most of its aircraft and cannot just be blacklisted by a lessor.

    “Let us join outstanding individuals and institutions like the Nigerian Army in honouring and supporting the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Dr. Allen Onyema for his service to Nigeria. We must grow Nigeria and patronise Nigeria to build and strengthen our economy,” the group added.

  • Centre urges Niger Delta youths to be active in politics 

    A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), yesterday urged youths in Niger Delta to get involved in politics.

    Speaking at a town hall meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the Acting Director, Mr. Monday Osasah, said youths should not shy away from electoral positions because they serve as the bridge that links the present and future generations.

    Osasah said the centre would continue to empower the citizens, especially youths, to transform the society.

    Describing youths as dynamic, he said they serve as agents of social change, especially in societies experiencing moral and social decadence.

    He said: “It is necessary to focus on youth development including building their capacities to participate in the political processes so that they are properly socialised into the governance process to contribute to the development of society.

    “Some of the processes that can contribute to participatory governance are effective political party policies, good candidates for elections, participatory budgetary process and effective legislative oversight. All these processes are almost absent in the Niger Delta region.

    “As a centre we have taken the challenge to build the capacities of youths in the region in line with our core objective of producing an avalanche of leaders knowledgeable in the theory and practice of leadership at every level they may find themselves.

    “We have built the capacities of over 240 youths interested in political offices in the Niger Delta states of Edo, Delta and Bayelsa. A lot of the trained youths are already active in various political parties across the states.

    “Today, the centre is here again to hold a town hall meeting to among other things, conscientise and advocate to stakeholders in the state to support the campaign and deliberately create space for a nuanced youth participation in the politics of the political parties and that of the state.”

    In his presentation, a keynote speaker, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, blamed socio-cultural factors for the problem of non-participation of youths in politics.

    He called on youths to shake off the toga of inferiority complex, adding that advanced leaders started as youths.

    Okaba, a lecturer in the Federal University, Otuoke, said politicians were using youths to achieve their selfish motives, and called on them to stop being thugs and ballot-box snatchers.

    Also, a Professor of Political Science,  Ambele Ekekpe described the Not-Too-Young-To-Run policy as mere window dressing..

     

  • ‘Niger Delta youths must stop breaking oil pipelines’

    The Vice-Chancellor of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Prof. Blessing Didia, has asked Niger Delta youths to stop breaking pipelines of oil companies, and acquire skills to become entrepreneurs.

    He spoke yesterday at the skills’ acquisition sensitisation workshop for youths from Rivers State host communities of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNG).

    The workshop was organised by the Capacity Development Department of Community Affairs and Development Division of the Total.

    The well-attended event, with many resource persons, took place at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Hall of university

    With its theme: “Maximising skill acquisition opportunities; skill acquisition, a pathway to success,” beneficiaries will be trained in computer, pipeline welding, plumbing, catering and hair styling, among others, between six months and one year.

    Two of last year’s trainees: Grace Fubara and Christian Ejiogu, both undergraduates of the university, said their participation made them financially independent.

    The vice-chancellor said: “For a very long time, we in the Niger Delta region have been told that our fate and promises are in the pipeline. The people, especially the youths, have been breaking and damaging the pipelines to find the promised things in the pipelines, but they have not seen anything. Therefore, it is time for us to stop breaking the pipelines and desist from attacking other facilities of oil companies.”

    Didia noted that the future of Nigeria lies in agriculture, and urged Total to continue with the initiative and remember the university in its activities, programmes and projects.

    He hailed the oil firm for its contributions to youth empowerment.

    Total’s Deputy General Manager, Community Affairs and Development Division, Port Harcourt District, Mr. James Urho, described the workshop as the initial orientation programme, aimed at informing and enlightening the trainees on the importance of the scheme.

     

  • Niger Delta youths rally support for amnesty programme

    Niger Delta youths have solicited support for the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    Under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Council, they asked people of the region to remain calm and support the Coordinator and Special Assistant to the President on Amnesty Programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo.

    In a statement after a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja jointly signed by its national coordinator, Jator Abido and secretary, Kede Michael yesterday, the youths said:  “We should learn not to wash our dirty linen in public and desist from the act of pulling those that meant well for our region. Niger Delta must be united

    “We should learn to channel our grievances and all other matters through the appropriate leadership organs and learn to support our own to achieve successes in their primary place of assignment.”

    They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call on various security agencies to do their job effectively to curb insecurity in the country.

  • Niger Delta youths seek increased funding for amnesty

    Niger Delta youth leaders at the weekend warned politicians against undue interference in the activities of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) coordinated by Prof. Charles Dokubo.

    The leaders also appealed to the federal government to adequately fund PAP to enable the scheme fulfil its mandate.

    In a statement under the auspices of the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders (NDENYL), they alleged that the amnesty programme had been stifled by inadequate funding over the years.

    The leaders were drawn from the Urhobo Youth Assembly (UYA); Akwa-Cross Youth Coalition for Peace (AKCYCP); Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide; Itsekiri Youths; Kalabari Indigenous Movement (KIM) and the Efik Youth Council (EYC).

    In a statement by an IYC Spokesman, Daniel Dasimaka for the President-General of the NDENYL, Oweilaemi Pereotubo, the youth leaders declared that unless the PAP was adequately funded, the newly-appointed amnesty boss and anyone else that occupy the office would not deliver on their mandates.

    It said: “The Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty programme is one peace building programme that has helped the federal government tremendously to meet its financial targets.

    “Thus it is disheartening that it is not being adequately funded for the past three years.

    “We are therefore using this medium to call on the Federal Government to ensure the disbursement of all funds earmarked for the Amnesty Office.”

    It added:  “Our research shows that until his sack, the Gen Boroh led Amnesty programme had only received payment for the first quarter of 2017. What do you expect from a Man and office that has only received 2017 first quarter payment by almost the end of first quarter 2018? How can such a person and office perform optimally?

    “We are thus calling on the President to ensure the timely release of all funds due to the Amnesty Programme.”

     

  • Fed Govt spent N34b on overseas training for Niger Delta youths, says Boroh

    Fed Govt spent N34b on overseas training for Niger Delta youths, says Boroh

    SPecial Adviser on Niger Delta to the President and Co-ordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programmes Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh yesterday said about N34 billion was spent in the last three years on overseas training for Niger Delta youths.

    Gen. Boroh added that following his presentation last week at the United Nations, the body urged the Presidential Amnesty Programme to extend its programme to Cote d Voire.

    He spoke at the opening of the Third Quarterly Meeting of Ministers of Niger Delta Affairs, Petroleum Resources, Niger Delta governors, as well as oil and gas companies at the Office of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, in Abuja.

    A Draft Report on a Work Plan for the region covering 2017 to 2019 was unveiled.

    Gen. Boroh said:  “Most of last week, I was at the United Nations headquarters, New York City in the United States of America for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)  and I showed them what we have being doing in the Niger Delta.

    “By the time I finished and gave them our compendium, they were amazed. They were happy and they asked us to be on standby to help in resolving the militancy in Cote d’Ivoire. That means the world is aware of what we are doing to achieve stability and development in Niger Delta.

    “Cote d’Ivoire government is going to contact the Nigerian government and they will call on us to tell them the platform which we put in place towards achieving peace in the region.

    “It is an expensive programme, no doubt about it. Peace is expensive. It is better imagined, we will do everything to ensure we achieve that to prevent conflict. I have seen conflict, violent conflict for that matter, and I don’t want to see it again in our country.

    “Let us do all we can to achieve peace by ensuring that meetings of this nature are attended with open mind and discuss objectively on how best we can resolve our differences. Let me just give an instance of what Federal Government has spent on the area of education on the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The least amount in the last three years is about N34 billion.

    “That is why you hear of graduation in the United Kingdom, graduation in USA, graduation in Philistine, South Africa. It is huge. This year alone, the Federal Government has graduated 177 beneficiaries from the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the United States, and 140 beneficiaries from United Kingdom.

    “Calculate that in pounds sterling and U.S. dollars, it is expensive.   Please, let us appreciate the Federal Government for what it is doing towards ensuring peace and stability and development of Niger Delta.”

    Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Pastor Usani Uguru Usani said: “But today, we are able to see a draft report of the 2017 to 2019 work plan. We are not saying action plan or master plan, we are saying work plan.

    “That means by this plan, our work will be guided. So we are not just formulating what we will do, we are now talking about how we will do it, where we will do it, who will do it. That is why it’s called a work plan for one and half years-between 2017 and 2019.

    “Here, we have established input from the party doing development, helping us to carry out careful analysis on which oil company is taking action where, which party is acting where to be able to align our interests and make sure we eliminate all forms of duplication.

    “So, first choice is tied to the interest of the organisation in carrying out development, which is going to be put up in tabular form so that in this regard we can know exactly what or which company is doing well.

    “On our agenda, we are also domesticating oil and gas business in the region. By that, I want you to have confidence. We have several complaints oil companies not carrying out businesses in their location of operation.”