By Emem Idio, Yenagoa

Ijaw youths under the umbrella of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide, in its New Year message has highlighted issues which they want the federal government, multinational oil companies, state governors and interventionist agencies to pay special attention to in the new year.

IYC New Year message which was contained in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Binebai Princewill and made available to newsmen, said the demands which include, relocation of IOCs headquarters to Niger Delta, review of 3% Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, implementation of 2004 Confab Report, true fiscal federalism, among others are the resolve of the Ijaw people and will guide the modus operandi of Ijaw youths’ operations in 2024 and beyond.

Princewill said: ” As a council, we wish all Ijaw Youths living on planet  earth a prosperous New Year and commend each an everyone of you for standing tall in the defence of the Ijaw people and the Niger Delta region. It is important that the Ijaw Youth Council at this point in time put our expectations in writing before the Federal Government of Nigeria, Multinational Oil Companies operating in our region, the various Niger Delta Governors, interventionist agencies and others.

“It is on this note that we are highlighting the following issues before the Federal Government of Nigeria and its allies to work on as Council will be resolute in pursuing justice for our people using peaceful means.The issues include: 

“Relocation of IOCs headquarters back to the Niger Delta Region: We are calling on the multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region to begin to activate plans in relocating their headquarters back to the region. The Ijaw people cannot continue to accept this kind of injustice. You can’t milk oil from our soil and then be paying royalty to other state (s) that don’t produce oil and gas. Our people must be treated fairly and must participate fully in the oil and gas sector. We must get our due benefits and not the usual crumbs. We must renegotiate the modus operandi of the oil companies with particular regards to the well-being of the Ijaw and Niger Delta people that are hosting these companies. 

“Interventionist Agencies must begin to prioritise the rapid development of Ijaw/Niger Delta communities: The Ijaw people have resolved that Interventionist agencies established to make life more meaningful and by extension add more value to the development of the region must begin to in practical terms live up to the expectations of our people and the region.

“Interventionist agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Niger Delta Ministry and other related agencies must know that what we need now is the physical manifestation of projects in our communities. There should be no excuse this time around for our places to be  developed. 

“Worthy of note also is the construction of the Udo-Ofunama road, the NDDC should prioritise the urgent construction of that project as it means so much to the Ijaw and Niger Delta people. That road is the only access road leading to Egbema Kingdom. Egbema Kingdom is an Ijaw Kingdom, a major oil producing Kingdom in Niger Delta that is in Edo and Delta States. This important road project has lingered for too long, the current NDDC  has a moral duty to carry on with this project. 

“Implementation Of 2014 National Conference (Confab) Report: It is important we remind ourselves that Nigeria has an unfinished business with the May 2014 National Conference Report, popularly known as 2014 Confab. 

“Nigeria has been wobbling with a lot of challenges that at certain points even  threatens  our very survival as a nation. It is no longer news that Nigeria as a multi ethnic country needs to be  renegotiated by all. A renegotiated Nigeria for which the plights of the minorities are taken into consideration and a constitution for all is what the 2014 National Conference (Confab) report stands for. Nigeria is not likely to make any reasonable progress if the Confab is not implemented. A simple implementation of the 2014 Confab will lay to rest almost all the woes bedeviling Nigeria. It contains the master plan for Nigeria’s development. 

“The IYC will be keenly interested in how our people are fairing in the various Niger Delta States that we have been squeezed and balkanized into. Oftentimes, the Ijaws in Edo, Ondo, Delta, Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom  and Imo States have been grappling with issues of marginalisation, political alienation and wanton negligence on the part of the Governors in the various states. 

“It is our call that the governors take the development of the Ijaw areas more serious in 2024 as Council will not tolerate any further inimical political manipulation  foisted against our people. They are bonafide indigenes in these States and are even the economic base of the states, hence they should be treated fairly like real humans that they are. The Governors must take this message seriously, our communities must be seen developing like other areas in the states and our people should be appointed into juicy political offices as well. 

“IYC Reiterates its call for fiscal federalism: Today, this is 25 years after the formation of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide via the Kaiama Declaration on December 11th 1998. Fiscal federalism for all federating units in Nigeria to control sources in their region has always been part of the Ijaw struggle for self-determination and resource control. 

“The Ijaw People and Niger Deltans cannot continue to be exploited politically and economically in the Nigerian State without justice, as Nigeria is talking  about sustainable peace, we should be talking about sustainable justice. Today, in Zamfara and other states, they are mining golds and the proceeds from gold are not being shared, as the Federal Government of Nigeria has been mute over this grave injustice while  our oil and gas is made public. These are some of the anomalies that need to be corrected if we are to really move forward as a country.

“3% PIA, an aberration to the Niger Delta people: The Ijaws and the entire Niger Delta people are not comfortable with the paltry 3% for host communities in the PIA, we will study the PIA again and assemble our team to resist this injustice that is meted out on our people. This to us is one of the most draconian laws in Nigeria since the advent of democracy. We cannot accept this without challenging it. We are calling for increment of the percentage. 

“Employment nominal roll of IOCs: While we will continue to engage the Federal Government of Nigeria to negotiate a better deal for our people, the Multinational oil companies operating in our region will not be left out. 

“IYC will do all within our powers to engage oil companies by demanding the employment nominal roll of IOCs and other national companies operating in our region. We want to know the percentage of our indigenes that are gainfully employed in these companies compared to the ratio from those outside the region. This is very important to us as Ijaw people. There should be no excuse why our people can’t top the nominal roll of employment list of these companies. 

“Finally, while IYC will continue to work closely with security agencies and other critical stakeholders in the region to foster and sustain peace and unity in Nigeria, we are also  tasking the military to always be professional in dealing with the Niger Delta Communities as we have witnessed too much bombardment of defenseless Niger Delta communities.”