The President of Niger Delta Youth Association, NDYA, worldwide, Comrade Victor James, has decried the poor state of affairs in the Niger Delta region, calling on President Bola Tinubu, to, as a matter of urgency, address the issues confronting the region.

Comrade James, who made the call in a statement made available to journalists in Porthacourt, the Rivers State capital, noted that if nothing was done to address the oil spillage, lack of employment opportunities and the dearth of infrastructure, the peace in the region was at jeopardy.

The statement read in parts: “ The situation in the Niger Delta is becoming increasingly dire, and it’s time we confront the uncomfortable truth. President Tinubu seems to be drifting further from the pressing realities faced by our people in the region. The cries for job creation, the heart-wrenching environmental degradation, and the distress of unpaid salaries are echoing louder each day. It’s a troubling landscape that could jeopardize the fragile peace we currently enjoy.

“ Young people in the Niger Delta are feeling increasingly abandoned, especially when they see resources being directed towards Northern Nigeria. This neglect is particularly alarming given the impact of devastating oil spillage, which not only contribute to the climate crisis but also severely undermine life expectancy and livelihoods in the region.

This neglect is more than just an oversight; it’s a reflection of negligence on the part of the Federal Government. The alarming rates of unemployment and the lack of compensation for those whose lives have been shattered by oil companies’ activities—polluted farmlands and a devastated fishing industry, amounts to an inhumane crisis that demands immediate attention.

We must catapult the conversation from political maneuvering to genuine solutions. Our youths deserve good jobs, empowerment, and a future free from the shadows of neglect. Addressing these issues is not just a necessity; it is a moral imperative.

“ Let’s shine a spotlight on the Niger Delta and demand the urgency it so richly deserves. We cannot afford to wait any longer. If nothing is done to address these challenges, we will be forced to explore legal means necessary cater to our people’s yearnings and aspirations”

Comrade Victor James, who is also a global youths advocate, wondered why the the region remained underdeveloped despite the fact that it is responsible for the nations mainstay-oil.

“ We will not fold our hands and watch our people suffer needlessly. No good roads, no clean water, our farmlands compromised due to oil pollution, life expectancy shortened and above all extreme deprivation (our people living below poverty),” he warned.