16 POINT DEMANDS OF YOUTHS OF THE NIGER DELTA REGION.

Gentlemen of the press, arriving from a stakeholders meeting of select youth leaders of the G5 ethnic nationalities comprising the Ijaw, Urhobo, Itsekiri, Ndokwa and Isoko Nations of the Niger Delta, this release is being made available to notify everyone of the demands we are putting before the federal government.

As you all are aware, our dear country Nigeria was recently thrown into turmoil, with anarchy and violent riots grinding the major economic hubs of the country to a standstill, the chaos arising from the attack by men of the Nigeria army on hitherto peaceful EndSARS protesters who gathered at the Lekki toll gate plaza to demand for an end to police brutality and total reformation of the police force, showed how deep the anger the Nigerian populace has for the government, and the youths of Niger Delta are not left out.

The protest which originally was aimed at putting an end to police brutality - a problem our people experience regularly from the police and army-, provided for everyone an opportunity to voice their pains and seething anger against the government at all levels.

For us youths of Niger Delta, these past two weeks provided for us an opportunity to deep think and strategize, seeing how easy it was for our people to complain about how we have been treated over the years strengthened our position that the federal government has failed us.

To worsen an already tensed situation, before our very eyes, we saw the central bank of Nigeria pay the sum of 5 billion naira to acquire illegally mined gold from the Zamfara state government, this act, a clear message to us that whatever resources found in the North belongs to the people of the North but whatever is found in our back yard here in the Niger Delta including our crude and water belongs to the federal government, this we find very disturbing and very provocative, infact its a slap on our faces and we will not stand in akimbo and smile like nothing happened, no, Never!

Again, we reiterate that It's very provocative that the federal government will allow locals of northern extraction to illegally explore and exploit mineral resources, including gold and other gems deposit found in the North and at same time criminalize any such practice down south especially when it comes to our crude oil, it's obvious the Nigeria government see the Niger Delta region as a conquered territory, but we will not allow this continue anymore.

From when crude oil became Nigeria's major source of income and foreign exchange, the Nigeria economy has survived solely on the Niger Delta region, decades on, all we have to show for it is zero development and total neglect, whenever we complain, men of the Nigeria army are sent to our creeks to brutalize us until we are forced to keep quiet, is this what our people deserve for sustaining every region of this country? Hell no!

At this point, we are unequivocally stating that our anger with the federal government has reached a melting point, added to recent happenings, we stakeholders of the G5 ethnic nationality of the Niger Delta are putting forward the below listed 16 points demand to the federal government for immediate action:

1. Amendment of the constitution to give the Niger Delta region resource control.

2. Immediate end to all gas flaring activities in the Niger Delta region.

3. Amendment of the NDDC Act.

4. Full passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill 

5. Full implementation of the local content act.

6. Outright rejection of the water bill.

7. Total clean up of the Niger Delta.

8. Rehabilitation of the East/West road.

9. Immediate dredging of the Niger and it's tributaries to put an end to the annual flood ravaging our people.

10. End all forms of military confrontation and brutalization in the Niger Delta region.

11. Dredging of the Warri port from the Excravos channel to open up the water ways and revival of all sea ports in the Niger Delta.

12. Awarding of the contracts for the take off of the Export Processing Zone Ogidigben and Deep sea port Gbaramatu.

13. We demand for 40 percent  slot in the soon to be conducted Nigeria Railway Corporation employment.

14. Resuscitation of the moribund Delta Steel Company, Aladja.

15. Compel all IOCs to relocate their headquarters to the Niger Delta region.

16. Full take off of the Federal science and technical Maritime College, Okoba, Delta State.

While we are aware some of these demand may need multiple processes to implement, we however know that if truly the federal government is sincere, they will commit to ensuring all are met in the shortest possible time.

We want to state clearly, that should we not see any form of genuine commitments in the shortest possible time by the federal government, we will mobilise our people to occupy every federal government highway and multi national companies operating in the Niger Delta region until our demands are met, and yes, we mean business.

To our heroes who paid the ultimate price for a better Niger Delta and the Nigeria of our dreams, your sacrifices will never be forgotten, you guys are the real MVP.

To our fellow comrades, be strong and resilient, this time there is no retreat, no surrender!

God bless the good people of the Niger Delta!

This Release is signed on behalf of the G5 ethnic nationalities by:

Idi Presley Ifeanyichukwu (Snr. Comr.)

Secretary General, Ndokwa National Youth Movement (NNYM) Worldwide.

Comr. Frank Pukon,

Secretary General, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide.

Afejuku Appearance,  Secretary General, Itsekiri National Youths Council

Comr. Ughere Blessed,

President, Urhobo Mudiaga Movement (UMM), Osu-Ighelle of Urhobo youths.

Comr. Utomudo Fidelis,

President, Isoko National Youth Council and Convener, United Youth Frontier.