Delta youths urged to stop scaring away investors with unwholesome practices

Delta youths urged to stop scaring away investors with unwholesome practices

Delta youths have been admonished to stop the unhealthy practice of scaring away foreign investors from the oil-rich state.

TribunOnline reports that most community youths in the state are in the habit of extorting land developers and other investors in what they tag: “deve,” a corruption of ‘development fee.’

This extortionist trend, in spite of existing legislation against it by the state government, has, over time, discouraged investors from plying their trades in some parts of the state with records of regular extortions and harassments.

Speaking on the consequences of the youths’ activity, a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Sunny Onuesoke decried the pastime, saying it has worsened the spate of unemployment in the state.

Addressing some youths, who paid him a courtesy visit in his Warri office on Friday, the former governorship aspirant observed that there were no gainful jobs for Delta youths because they indulge in unwholesome practices.

These activities, he said, included ‘Deve,’ extortions, harassments and other community vices that scare away foreign investors in the state.

“If you keep harassing investors, extorting them and occupying their premises under one little excuse or the other, how do you expect them to invest in your communities so as to create employment and improve the socio-economic activities?

“We are complaining that there are no employment, no jobs, no  investors or industries in the state, but you’re are scaring away investors over claim of ‘development fees.’

“You extort, harass workers and perpetuate other criminal activities and you expect employments to come to you?

“If the environment is not conducive for investment, no investor will come to the state,” he lamented.

He stated that the government meant well for foreign investors, but unfortunately, the obnoxious activities of youths seemed to be their obstacle, advising that the only way to attract foreign investments to the state is for youths to comply with the government’s directives on peaceful existence with investors.

Onuesoke, therefore, appealed to Delta youths to accommodate foreign investors so as to enjoy the economic and social benefits, adding that they should imbibe the culture of youths in South Western states of Nigeria who are working in collaboration with foreign investors to bring socio-economic development to their states and environs.