N621billion Projects: Niger Delta Youths Vow to Occupy NNPC, NASS
- The Niger Delta Youth Council is alleging marginalisation by the Buhari administration in its efforts to fix bad roads in the country
- NNPC, an agency of the federal government, recently disclosed that it has taken over the reconstruction of 21 federal roads across the country
- The Niger Delta group says the oil-rich region is not benefitting from the initiative except mere rehabilitation of some roads
FCT, Abuja - A group, Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) has announced that it is mobilising its members to occupy the National Assembly complex and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) headquarters in Abuja within the next 48hrs.
According to the group, it will carry out the action until the decision of the federal government to exclude the Niger Delta in its plan to reconstruct more roads in the region is rescinded.
Source: Facebook
The NNPC recently disclosed that it has taken over the reconstruction of 21 federal roads across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The approval was given by the recent Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
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However, the NDYC in a statement sent to Legit.ng and signed by its national coordinator, Engr. Jator Abido accused the federal government of being insensitive to the plight of the people considering the fact that the region produces the wealth of the nation.
Part of the statement read:
“Over the years, there has been this faulty claim that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is responsible for the development of the region forgetting that the commission is just an interventionist body.
“It is ridiculous that the funds realised from oil and gas activities is used in funding infrastructural development of other regions while the Niger Delta continues to suffer underdevelopment.
“We consider the sharing pattern of the roads to be constructed by the present administration between Northern Nigeria and Southern Nigeria and the exclusion of other vital federal roads particularly in Bayelsa state, Rivers state and Delta state as been lopsided.
“While we have continued to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, it is sad that we are not given the attention we deserve. Hence, if nothing is done urgently to revert this ugly and unacceptable move by the NNPC, we will be compelled to occupy the National Assembly complex and the headquarters of the NNPC.
“We consider as an insult on the sensitivity of the Niger Delta people the audacity of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to allocate, out of 1804.6 kilometers of road to be constructed by NNPC, only 288.22 kilometers allocated to the south. While 1,516.38 kilometers of roads were allocated to the south.”
FG gives N656 billion financial support to 36 states
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a fresh N656billion bridge financing facility to the 36 states of the federation, with each receiving N18.2billion.
This was disclosed on Thursday, November 18 at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, which was held virtually and presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
State governors, ministers, the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, and other senior government officials were in attendance at the NEC meeting.
CBN to empower Nigerian undergraduates, graduates
Meanwhile, the CBN has taken a major step to ensure graduates and undergraduates in Nigeria are empowered financially.
The apex bank recently disclosed that it would extend its support to the youths in tertiary institutions with grants.
The bank announced that it would give out the sum of N500million to five top Nigerian polytechnics and universities with the best ideas to promote their enterprise.
Source: Legit.ng
