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… Says Development of Niger Delta, Directly Linked to National Security
By Amos Odie, Yenagoa
There is a clear nexus between development and security. So, the development of the Niger Delta region must be linked to national security.
President of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC Worldwide, Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri Snr, handed this down when he led hundreds of Ijaw youths and members of the Third Phase of the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP), led by its National Chairman, Gen Elaye Slaboh, to the East-West road in a warning protest on Monday, June 17, 2024 to express their displeasure and anger over the deplorable pace of work on the road.
Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri in partnership with leaders of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Phase 3, who said when you develop a people, they naturally secure themselves, condemned the Federal Government for militarising the Niger Delta region, “without considering the development of the area.”
While appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to make the East-West road his priority and fix it immediately, the IYC president, said the Federal Government should consider the urgency of the East-West road which is currently the only road linking the South-East, South-South and the South-West, before channeling its attention to the Niger Delta coastal road project, which importance, he said, can not also be overemphasised.
The IYC President who pointed out that over four hundred billion Naira was approved during the last lap of the Buhari’s administration for the completion of the road, with little or no work done to show for it, also said the Federal Government must begin a genuine process of completing the road, noting that if nothing is done before the rains and perennial flood begins, they will be left with no option than to completely shutdown vehicular movements on the road.
He said there is no way the Federal Government will be so much interested in the oil and gas of the Niger Delta, without considering the development of the area, adding that they are beginning to run out of patience on the issue of the road.
Other road users, who narrated their ordeals while plying the East-West road, said apart from the numerous accidents that have been recorded on the road due to some terribly bad spots and culverts construction spots that were dug and abandoned by the company handling the job, they are most times trapped in the traffic for several hours.
The East-West road has become a nightmare to motorists and passengers.
He said all hands must be the deck for the National and State Assembly members from the South – South to sponsor an urgent bill for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the East – West road which is currently a deathtrap and centre for kidnappers, especially the Ughelli and Evwreni axis, and called for the replacement of the police with the military to sniffle out the kidnappers from the forest near Ughelli.
According to a statement signed by Inko Brightstar, National Publicity Secretary, PAP Phase 3, this is the first time IYC and “the Niger Delta Ex-Warlords are working in synergy for the common interest of the region, and it is commendable,” as he commended Sir Jonathan Lokpobiri and general Elaye Slaboh for this bold step and collaboration which is worthy of emulation by other youth groups across the Niger Delta Region.
He said the Third Phase leadership is “ever ready to collaborate and synergize with well meaning stakeholders for the enthronement of peace and security, which will attract progress and infrastructural development to the Niger Delta Region.
