As youths call for dialogue to end hostilities in the region

By Emma Amaize, Jimitota Onoyume

WARRI—NATIONAL President of Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, Mr. Alaowei Cleric, yesterday, said that President Muhammadu Buhari could not sustain peace in the Niger Delta without a clear-cut programme by the Federal Government to develop the region.

He also said that the Ministry of Niger Delta, Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and other interventionist agencies must be well funded to carry out their functions.

The cleric, in a statement in Warri, said: “If President Buhari is sincere in addressing the age-long challenges in the Niger Delta region, then we see no reason why the institutions saddled with the responsibility of developing the region are starved of funds under his government.”

Also, Niger Delta youths have enjoined the Federal Government to explore dialogue in tackling problem of insurgency in  the region.

In a communique  at the end of their meeting under the aegis of Niger Delta Youth Movement, NDYM,  in Port Harcourt,  Rivers State, the group said military operation to quell activities of Niger Delta Avengers could aggravate the situation.

The communique by president of the body, Joe Jackson and Secretary,  Amakuro Isaac said the group  was not in support  of attack on oil facilities in the region, but  urged  the Federal Government to  effectively fund the amnesty programme of the NDDC and  Ministry of Niger Delta to tackle issues of underdevelopment in the area.

The group also called for the immediate constitution of the board of NDDC, adding that the government should commence academic activities at  Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.

“We urgently call on all major multinationals to pay their statutory contributions to bodies and agencies such as NDDC and their host communities for the sake of peace and development of the region,” the group said.

FHRACC leader, continuing, said: “How can the Niger Delta Ministry carry out capital projects in that difficult terrain with a paltry sum of N19 billion as its overall budget for this financial year?  Even the meagre amount of N41 billion given to NDDC by Buhari as its overall budget for this financial year cannot execute any projects in such a difficult terrain that covers nine state.”