Niger Delta youths vow support for President Tinubu, reject planned protests

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, received unwavering support from Niger Delta youths for President Bola Tinubu’s administration during an event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

This declaration was made at the launch of a Youth Internship Scheme, initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which aims to engage 10,000 youths from the region. The youths assured Akpabio that they would not partake in the planned nationwide protests, instead pledging their continued backing for the President’s success.

Speaking at the NDDC Executive Management Engagement with Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities and Selected Stakeholders, Akpabio declared that the Niger Delta region would remain a protest-free zone.

Detailing the Youth Internship Scheme, Akpabio noted that the first phase would see 10,000 youths receiving a monthly stipend of ₦50,000. He highlighted the President’s commitment to the region’s development, citing the inauguration of five flagship projects, including roads, bridges, and electricity, following a Presidential directive.

Akpabio also commended the NDDC for restoring damaged sections of the East-West Road and assured that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project would commence simultaneously from Lagos and the Niger Delta.

Despite the challenges, he emphasized that the NDDC had executed several projects that improved the lives of the region’s residents and promised that the Commission would receive its full statutory allocations moving forward.

NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, highlighted the region’s transition from militant agitation to intellectual struggle, noting the benefits now being reaped. He detailed the Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement (HOPE), which aims to identify the interests of Niger Delta youths for skills training.

According to him, Project HOPE has developed a comprehensive digital repository of information about the youths, including their qualifications, skills, interests, needs, and current employment.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, emphasized the importance of unity and peace for progress. He praised the NDDC’s Board and Management for their collaborative efforts in developing the Niger Delta region.

Ambassador Jonathan Lokpobiri, President of the Ijaw Youth Council, condemned those inciting youths to anarchy and noted that the protesters’ demands did not address the long-neglected East-West Road. He commended the NDDC for providing temporary relief for road users amid threats of flooding.

At the conference’s conclusion, participants unanimously dissociated themselves from the planned protests against President Tinubu’s administration and resolved to support the continued peace and development of Nigeria and the Niger Delta region.

Key attendees included Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu; Chairman, Senate Committee on NDDC, Asuquo Ekpeyong; Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Eteng Williams; Chairman, NDDC, Mr. Chiedu Ebie; Managing Director, NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku; Executive Director Projects, NDDC, Victor Antai; and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate, Dr. Saviour Enyiekere, along with numerous stakeholders from the oil-producing zone.

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