FG told to tackle Niger Delta problems

The plethora issues militating against the development of the oil and gas rich region has drawn the err of an advocacy group, the Pan Niger Delta People’s Congress, as they called on the Federal Government to treat the problems as top priority to ensure continued peace in the region.

The PNDPC, a group reportedly mandated by the coalition of Niger Delta militants and youths of the region to negotiate on their behalf, asked the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgent national interest, begin a full implementation of its strategic plan for the region without delay.

It will be recalled that recently, the militant groups in the coalition such as the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers; Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders Council; Niger Delta Supreme Egbesu Fighters; Niger Delta Red Scorpion Fighters, among others, allegedly pulled out of Chief Edwin Clark-led Pan Niger Delta Forum and mandated PNDPC to discuss with government on behalf of the region.

The coordinator, PNDPC, Chief Mike Loyibo, in a statement, urged the Federal Government to treat the funding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme as a security issue and that the Ministry of Finance should be directed to release amnesty funds promptly.

Loyibo also demanded the upgrade of the Oron Maritime School in Akwa Ibom as well as commencement of the Maritime University in Delta State.

He urged the Federal Government to complete the East-West Road, a major expressway linking the South-South region to other parts of the country as well ensure massive creation of jobs in the region.

He stated, ‘’The Federal Government should properly coordinate the various intervention agencies in the region for viability and maximum gains.

Loyibo averred that the region was not asking for too much, adding that what the Niger Delta people wanted was within the purview of the Federal Government, even as he noted that should the President Buhari government decided to take pragmatic steps to redress the issues, there would be tranquility in the region and the ultimate beneficiary would be the Federal Government.