SENATE PRESIDENT LAUNCHES NDDC YOUTH INTERNSHIP SCHEME, ENJOYS NIGER DELTA YOUTHS TO SHUN PROTEST
BY GABRIEL OKECHUKWU, FRCN PORT HARCOURT
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio has urged youths of Niger Delta Region to shun planned nationwide protest.
Senator Akpabio who gave the advice in Port Harcourt Rivers State while launching Youth Internship Scheme put up by Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, however, expressed displeasure over the negative effects of oil exploration in Niger Delta Region.
As a follow up to the success of Niger Delta Stakeholders Summit that brought together major stakeholders in Niger Delta region, where far reaching decisions that would chart a new course in the development of the region were taken, the leadership of Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC again put up, Niger Delta Sensitization Conference for youths and women of the region.
Addressing the gathering, Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio who acknowledged the negative effects of oil exploration in the region, told the people that Calabar axis of the seven hundred kilometers Lagos-Calabar coastal highway would be flagged off soon.
Senator Akpabio who called NDDC Manafing Director a transformer, insisted that President Bola Tinubu meant well for the region, as such, there was no need to join the nationwide protest.
The Senate President who launched NDDC youth Internship scheme promised that the communique of stakeholders summit would be presented to the president.
On his part, Chairman, NDDC Board, Chiedu Ebie who pleaded with the youths and other stakeholders to support the commission as it sets out for massive infrastructural development of Niger Delta Region, appreciated President Tinubu for approving additional sources of funding for the commission.
Similarly, Managing Director NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku called for patience from the people as the president makes efforts to cousion the effects of hardship in the land, noted that Niger Delta people have engaged in struggles in the past, believing that the struggle has gravitated to intellectual engagement.
Dr. Ogbuku explained that ten thousand youths would be paid fifty thousand naira monthly in the first phase of NDDC Youth internship scheme.
In their separate speeches, Environmental Activist, Ankio Briggs who called for inclusion of women in policy making, asked for constructive dialogue with the government to know the owners of oil assets in Niger Delta region.
While the President of Ijaw Youth Council, comrade Jonathan Lokpobiri advised the youths not to be part of planned protest.
