The Nation Newspaper

Tag: youths

  • Youths arrest ‘pipeline vandals’

    Youths arrest ‘pipeline vandals’

    Two suspected pipeline vandals were arrested yesterday by youths of Odimodi Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

    The suspects were reportedly picked up near Isiayegbene, a fishing settlement by River Forcados. They were handed over to the leader of naval officers attached to the Joint Task Force (JTF) at the Forcados Terminal of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    The Base Information Officer at NNS Delta, Warri Naval Base, Commodore Tope Ogunaike, confirmed the report.

    He said investigation was ongoing on the matter.

    Ogunwale said the Commanding Officer would speak today on the arrest.

    A community leader, who spoke in confidence, said: “Prior to the arrest of the youths, SPDC official informed the community that there is a drop in the pressure of crude oil in some of their facilities. This usually means that illegal bunkering gangs or vandals are at work.

    “When the report got to the community, members of the Odimodi Surveillance were mobilised and asked to comb the creeks and rivers for unusual activities and report back to the community.

    “In the course of their patrol, the surveillance boys accosted a group of boys near Isiayegbene. When they were asked about their mission, they could not give a cogent reason; instead, they tried to fight their way out.”

    It was learnt that two suspects were overpowered, captured and taken to the town while a third accomplice reportedly escaped.

    “The two boys, along with the two wives of the escaped member of the team, were handed over to men of the Nigerian Navy attached to the JTF at Forcados terminal,” the source added.

  • Southsouth youths warn against NDDC’s scrap

    Southsouth youths warn against NDDC’s scrap

    Youths of the Southsouth, under the aegis of Southsouth Youth Patriotic Movement for Ultimate Peace and Justice (SSYPAM), have advised against the scrapping of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    They also expressed their unalloyed supports for the in-coming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    The youths, who prayed for God’s directives to the President –elect  to  successfully bring the needed change, peace and stability in Nigeria,  warned those clamouring for the dissolution of the NDDC to desist forth-with in the interest of sustained peace in the country.

    The group, in a statement in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, congratulated the General for his victory at the polls and also asked him to ignore the calls against the commission, noting that those calling for the scrapping of the agency do not mean well for his government and the Nigerian’s oil-rich region.

    In the statement signed by their National President, Chinagorom Nwonkwo, they explained that the establishment of the Commission resulted in the peace being experienced in the region and safety of Federal Government’s investments/ oil installations in the area, stressing that the interventions being provided by the commission in the hitherto neglected area and their youths was responsible for the militancy and youth restiveness witnessed in the region before.

    Nwonkwo gave pass mark to the managers of the commission, especially the present Board but noted that the commission is being crippled by under -funded and even heavy debts.

    “We are calling on those demanding for scrapping of NDDC put a stop to it and give support to the commission to achieve the mandate of developing the region that produces the wealth which the nation enjoys.

    “NDDC from its inception has performed very well but due to scarcity of funds, it has continued to face the challenge of the level of performance as expected by the people.

    “The commission from the time of set-up has initiated and completed several structural projects in the region and also engaged in human development and empowerments programmes  for the people of the region, both locally and internationally, despite the challenge of under-funding and huge debt being owe it by the Federal Government,

    “Presently the commission is being owed a cumulative sum of N700 billion, if this amount is released to the Commission, it will go a long way in meeting the yearnings of the people of the region to the admiration, appreciation of the entire country.” They said.

    Speaking on the gains of the establishment of the agency has made said, “We also want to state that those calling for the scrapping of NDDC to first ask themselves, how youth restiveness in the region was drastically reduced?, how militancy became a thing of the past in the region among other.

    “The existence of the commission for the marginalised and abandoned region has made it possible for youths from the region to get small ticket jobs, contracts which they execute and get empowered to boost their economic well-being and that of their family members.

    “We are therefore calling on well- meaning Nigerians to support NDDC and its good works, instead of condemning it. We are also using this medium to call on President-elect  to ignore the call and map out strategies for effective and adequate funding of the commission  as soon as he assumes office next month to enable the commission deliver on its mandate.” They appealed.

  • ‘Our youths, our future’

    ‘Our youths, our future’

    Indigenes of Azumini Ancient Kingdom in Abia State have visited the community’s traditional ruler to seek his  blessings and discuss the challenges of youths.  LAURA OPUSUNJU and CHINONYE EMUCHAY report.

    Azumini Ancient Kingdom, a community in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State is still basking in the glow of the coronation of its traditional ruler, Prof Edward Eule. The monarch was a university teacher in the United States before he was picked to ascend the throne.

    But, before he could settle down to business, students of Azumini origin in higher institutions under the aegis of Azumini Students’ Union (ASU) visited him. Led by the union’s national president, Emmanuel Shebbs, the students met the monarch in his palace to seek his blessings and tell him of the challenges facing the youth.

    Shebbs praised the monarch for granting the students audience, saying: “We are here today to seek your ofo oma (blessings) and to contribute our ideas and recommendations which can make your reign peaceful.”

    The ASU president said politicians had disappointed the community, noting that the youth do not trust them again.

    Shebbs told the king that the major challenges facing the community were unemployment and moral decadence. He said the  community is blessed with intellectuals, scholars and youths that could work for its development but many of them, he said, do not have the wherewithal to contribute their quota.

    He said: “The community has educated men and women and youths currently studying at various universities within and outside the country. But the challenge which bothers us so much is that, there are many youths who are not in school due to challenges that make it difficult to go to school.

    “We request that your royal highness to consider the establishment of Azumini Royal Scholarship scheme to encourage young men and women to go to school. We want jobs to be created for the community youths to reduce urban migration. If this is done, people will come back home and develop Azumini. We love our community that is why we are here to make our recommendations for the development of Aumini Kingdom.”

    Reacting, Eze Eule hailed the students’ courage to list their challenges. He said the students’ thoughts and ideas indicated that the community was blessed with good youths, raising hope that Azumini Kingdom would be a better place if the youth are allowed to participate in development.

    He urged the students to be virtuous and be good example to others, who did not have privilege to get education.

    Eule said he understood the need for immediate action to develop the community, reiterating his readiness to settle age-long disputes, which he said, have stifled the growth of the community for years.

    He said: “Development cannot happen when there is dispute in the society. We have to promote peaceful relationship between Azumini people and their neighbours. We are doing that now and thank God it is working out to our expectation.”

    On the issue of scholarship, the monarch said: “That is very interesting. We are going to commence immediate action on that.  I will communicate with our kinsmen in the United States. We have the Azumini Welfare Association in United States. We will see how we can make that happen. Even if it means to start with two or three students for now, we will. Education is very crucial to development and we have to start with that.”

    The monarch described unemployment as a general problem, but promised to use his contact to attract investors and companies to the community. “We have sufficient raw materials and we have the arable land. We thank God the power project is on. As soon as that is completed, we will invite investors to come into Azumini to create jobs, not just for Azumini people but also for our neighbours,” he said.

    The highpoint of the meeting was the formal nomination of Eze Eule as Royal Grand Patron to the union. The nomination letter was presented to the monarch by Shebbs, who said the position was expected to bring successes to the union and its members.

    “We promise to be good ambassadors of the Azumini Kingdom and set good examples for upcoming generations,” Shebbs said.

     

  • Youths urge Ambode to tackle restiveness

    Youths urge Ambode to tackle restiveness

    THE Coordinator of the Young Achievers Campaign Organisation of Nigeria (YACOON), Temitope Adewale, has urged the Lagos State Governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode, to tackle youth restiveness when he assumes office.

    Adewale said the youth voted for the governor-elect because of his pledge to tackle unemployment and social decadence in the society.

    The coordiantor added that youths were swayed by the campaign promises of the All Progressives Congress (APC ), adding that they voted for the party at all levels.

    Adewale said youths take to crime because of idleness and the lack of an enduring programme to keep them busy. He said they often succumb to the temptation of being used as political thugs during elections.

    He said some of the youths fronting the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) did not do so on the conviction that the party would address their problems, but because of what they stood to benefit immediately.

    Adewale said: “Many of the youths that portrayed themselves as Jimi Agbaje’s fans did not have permanent voter’s cards (PVC), talk less of getting out to vote; all they know how to do is to use the social media, read and learn politics on Linda Ikeji’s blog.

    “On the other hand, the APC governorship candidate, now Governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had the most awkward fans, ranging from the artisans to the motor parks, Unions, students, professionals and all the way to the grassroots and this are the real electorates.

    “The youths of Lagos decided, they believe in  Ambode and with Ambode they stood for victory. But, as much as the victory is worth celebrating, it is also most important to state that the hope and the expectations of the electorate must be met.”

  • My platform is to solve youths’ challenges

    My platform is to solve youths’ challenges

    Olaniyi Ayorinde is a final year student of Mass Communication at Kwara State University (KWASU). He is the author of The Entrepreneur Clout and founder of Inspire Nigeria Project, which inspires youths through social media. He tells HAMEED MURITALA (Mass Communication) what inspired the project.

    Would you tell us what Inspire Nigeria Project is all about?

    The project is an initiative the country needs. I realised we needed a page from which people could get inspiration on social media apart from the usual ritual of socialising. Not everyone can be Michael Zuckerberg, but I believe we can make the best out of the massive idea he created. So, I started the page on Facebook and titled it “Inspire Nigeria Project”. As the name connotes, it is designed as a platform where youths can meet and inspire themselves irrespective of cultural, social and religious status. The response I got in a week made me understand there is power in the social media.

    What would you say inspired this project?

    The inspiration is to help provide emotional need of youths and try our best to see that we effect solutions to problems using the social media as tool. Youths have a lot of things bothering them. Some believe that when their problems are shared, there is the possibility they could be mocked. So, they keep their challenges to themselves and this causes great damage to their minds. I wanted a platform I would use to help people overcome their challenges.

    What are the programmes you have done since you started this project?

    The first project I did was the “Social Inspire Challenge” which required people to send in a selfie with the hashtag #inspirenigeriaproject. We know how much Nigerians like pictures and we felt we could as well make that as part of our strategies to engage them.

     

     

  • Youths picket MTN in Edo over xenophobic attacks

    Business activities at the Edo State headquarters of telecommunications giant, MTN, were paralysed yesterday in Benin, the state capital, when youths, under the aegis of The Flagship, protested the xenophobic killings in South Africa.

    The protesters barricaded the entrance to MTN office on the Murtala Muhammed Way by 7 am.

    Their placards bore inscriptions, such as “Xenophobia is inhuman”; “Zuma, call your boys to order”; “South Africans can’t be making money from us and still be killing us”; “Nigerians, boycott South Africa companies”.

    Their spokesman Austin Enabulele said the action was a warning to the South Africa government to stop the attacks on Nigerians.

    The spokesman said the attacks on foreigners by South Africans were inhuman and condemnable.

    He said: “We are all Africans. We wonder why they should attack Nigerians doing their legitimate businesses in South Africa, when we have shown them love to operate in Nigeria.

    “We have come here to tell (President Jacob) Zuma to call his people to order, because if he fails to call them to order, we will do the needful. We are aware of all their businesses in Nigeria. We know of MTN, we know of Shoprite; we know of Multichoice and we know of every other company that belongs to South Africa. We will shut down all their services, if they continue the killing of our brothers and sisters.

    “So, we have come here to tell them to end the killing of our brothers and sisters who are doing their legitimate jobs in South Africa.”

    The group’s Vice President Gloria Noren said South Africans were not showing gratitude for the financial support they got from Nigeria during the Apartheid era.

    She said: ‘’How could someone come out to say that we are taking their jobs from them? What about the money they are making from us?

    “Nigeria spent over N60 billion fighting Apartheid for them. Why should we exchange love to them and they extend hatred to us? It is totally inhuman and distasteful; it is disgusting.

    “We are sending this message to the Nigerian government to retrieve Nigerians from South Africa because we cannot keep losing our brethren.”

     

  • Youths protest in Imo

    Youths protest in Imo

    Another round of protests rocked Owerri, the Imo State capital yesterday, as youths barricaded major roads, condemning INEC’s refusal to declare the winner of the governorship election.

    Over 4,000 youths accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Ada, of conniving with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to undermine the people’s will.

    They alleged that the REC accepted the results manipulated by the PDP but rejected others, though it was obvious the All Progressives Congress (APC) won convincingly.

    One of the youths warned that the stalemate might snowball into a crisis if INEC failed to do the right thing.

     

  • Youths protest in Imo

    Another round of protests rocked Owerri, the Imo State capital yesterday, as youths barricaded major roads, condemning INEC’s refusal to declare the winner of the governorship election.

    Over 4,000 youths accused the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Gabriel Ada, of conniving with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to undermine the people’s will.

    They alleged that the REC accepted the results manipulated by the PDP but rejected others, though it was obvious the All Progressives Congress (APC) won convincingly.

    One of the youths warned that the stalemate might snowball into a crisis if INEC failed to do the right thing.

     

     

  • Youths hail Tinubu, Akinyelure

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Youth Assembly has hailed the party’s National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Southwest Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure.

    The National Coordinator, Majeed Yahaya, said the victories recorded by the party are testimonies to the leadership qualities of the former governor.

    “We give glory to God for these victories and the leadership direction Tinubu has given us.

    “We want to congratulate our national leader for ensuring that we retained our pride in the Southwest.

    “The April 11 victories are landmark achievements.

    “Tinubi is indeed a visionary leader, a core democrat, an ideologist and a strategist, who God has used to accomplish the huge success and victories recorded by the APC. We will forever appreciate him.

    “Our appreciation also goes to Chief Akinyelure, whose fatherly experience we would continue to enjoy in the Southwest.

    “His appointment as the Southwest Chairman has been a blessing to the region.

    “We’re also full of joy with the record created by Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who broke the second term jinx in Oyo State.”

  • Rivers youths bust ‘INEC officials’ thumprinting ballot papers

    Rivers youths bust ‘INEC officials’ thumprinting ballot papers

    A group of youths in Rivers State at the weekend found some people believed to be officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) thumb printing ballot papers in Khana, a community in Ogoniland.

    The officials are believed to be carrying out the act to justify the results posted for the National Assembly elections.

    A source said: “One of the officials disclosed that the action was arrived at to justify the results tendered and provide evidence in preparation for tribunal.”

    The youths later handed over the materials seized from the officials to Senator Magnus Abe, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers South-East Senatorial candidate.

    Abe, at a news conference yesterday which was also attended by the Director-General of the Greater Tomorrow Campaign Organisation, Victor Giadom, urged the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) unit of the police to investigate and prosecute the INEC officials and policemen involved in the act.

    Abe said: “As you can see before me are INEC ballot papers from Khana. At about 12noon (Thursday), youths stumbled on some INEC officials in their office in Bori, where they brought in presiding officers and supervisors to thumbprint ballot papers and doctored results all in favour of PDP.

    “I called the Area Commander, Bori and the DPO who told me the INEC officials were in Bori to collect their stipends on the last elections; I called CP Karma, who asked me to report the matter to the CID; I decide to inform the Nigerian public before proceeding to the police CID.”

    Abe urged INEC chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega to redeploy the Rivers State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Gesila Khan, before next Saturday’s elections “for showing executive recklessness in collaboration with PDP and the police”.

    He also called for the cancellation of the “concocted elections, because the votes counted in favour of the PDP were not cast by Rivers people”.