The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has threatened to launch a 14-day protest against the country’s hardship but has stated that it will speak with Niger Delta leader Chief Edwin Clark and other stakeholders before initiating such action.
Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilus, President of the IYC, announced this in a statement issued Sunday in Abuja. He also accused some high government officials of politicising the hardship.
Theophilus specifically accused Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC Limited, and the Petroleum Minister (State), Heineken Lokpobiri, of politicising the oil and gas sector’s operations, resulting in severe national hardship for Nigerians.
According to the IYC, “the actions of the NNPC leadership and the Petroleum Minister (Oil) have contributed to the ongoing economic challenges, which are most felt in oil-producing regions like the Niger Delta. Their inability to effectively manage the nation’s oil resources has led to a ripple effect of hardship, including high fuel prices, scarcity of petroleum products, and a strain on the national economy.
“The mismanagement and political manoeuvring within the oil sector are evident. The decisions made by these key figures are not in the best interest of the people but rather serve political interests that further marginalise the already struggling regions, especially the Niger Delta, which bears the brunt of oil exploration,” he added.
The IYC President emphasised that the NNPC CEO and Minister have failed in their duties to ensure openness and accountability in the oil industry.
He stated that the politicisation of oil profits and contracts has aggravated the economic crisis, leaving inhabitants with high prices for necessary necessities and a general deterioration in living conditions.
Dr. Theophilus also accused the leadership of excluding oil-producing communities, particularly the Ijaw nation, from decisions that directly affect their welfare, pointing out that the Niger Delta, despite being the hub of Nigeria’s oil wealth, continues to suffer from environmental degradation, unemployment, and poor infrastructure as a result of those in power’s neglect.
“Their continuous stay in office is a disservice to the nation. We demand that the President take decisive action by removing these individuals from their positions to restore confidence in the oil sector and alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.
“Failure to act swiftly may lead to further unrest in the region, and the IYC will embark on a Niger Delta protest for 14 days after due consultations with Pa Clark and other stakeholders who have the interest of the ijaw man at heart because the youth are growing increasingly frustrated with the government’s handling of the nation’s oil wealth.
“The Ijaw Youth Council, which represents the interests of the Ijaw ethnic group, has long been an advocate for the equitable distribution of oil wealth and greater autonomy for the Niger Delta region.
“Our statement echoes the growing dissatisfaction among stakeholders in the oil-producing regions, who feel marginalised despite their significant contributions to the nation’s economy,” he added.
