Youths under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Leaders Assembly (NDYLA)
including ex-militants and non-militant youths on Tuesday applauded
the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr Ibe Kachikwu for
relentless efforts to restore peace to the region.
They therefore pledged to work with Dr Ibe Kachikwu to enable him
achieve President Buhari’s new roadmap for the oil sector and the
Niger Delta.
This endorsement is contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a
strategic meeting held in Yenegoa, the Bayelsa capital and signed by
Mr Amaibi Hornby and Mr Kenedy West for NDYLA.
NDYLA said the meeting was brain storm on how to fashion out a
proactive approach towards sustaining the already existing peace in
the region, appraised the achievements recorded by Dr Ibe Kachikwu and
the GMD NNPC.
The group noted that the duo have worked hard to ensure that the
vision of President Muhammadu Buhari for the Niger delta region is
brought to fruition.
According to the communiqué, Kachikwu in addition to instituting
reforms that have positively repositioned the oil industry, has also
made conscious efforts to rally round his kinsmen towards restoring
peace in the troubled region.
“As youth leaders in the Niger Delta, We are fully aware of the steps
taken by the Petroleum Minister to restore sanity in the oil and gas
sector.
“The successful launch of the “7 bigwins” a new oil sector roadmap
which identifies the development of the Niger delta as crucial to the
progress of the petroleum sector.
“Efforts by the minister to revamp the nation’s ailing refineries are
also a big plus.
“We equally appreciate the minister for championing the China, India,
Eni deals which will create employment for thousands of skilled and
unskilled youths across the region” the communiqué read in part.
They further commended the ongoing fact finding tour by the Vice
President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to the states of the Niger Delta with
the aim of having firsthand knowledge of the peculiar nature of the
oil producing areas of the region.
According to them, the tour which was made possible based on series
of earlier consultations by the Petroleum Minister will facilitate the
peace process in the Niger Delta.
The Youth leaders however want extension of the visit to Bayelsa and
Rivers to enable him get firsthand information on the situation in
strategic oil communities such as Koluama, Brass, Ezetu, Sangana,
Bonny, Soku and Omoku.
The Youth Leaders appealed to President Buhari to speed up the
inauguration of the Dialogue committee to demonstrate his
administration’s seriousness in restoring peace in the region.
The maintained that their objective is to transform the Nigeria’s oil
industry while taking into consideration the need to speed up human
and infrastructure development of the region that lays the golden
egg.