Youths threaten protest over non-inclusion of Ondo representative in NDDC

Youths from various communities in the oil-producing Ilaje Local Council of Ondo State have threatened to attack oil-production facilities in the area because the state has no representative on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Ondo has no member on the newly-inaugurated board of the commission because of the rejection by the Senate of the nominee presented by President Muhammadu Buhari for the state.

During a protest staged at the state head office of the intervention agency in Igbokoda, headquarters of the council yesterday, the youths gave a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government after which they will carry out their threats.

The youths, under the aegis of Ilaje Coastal Youth Alliance (‎ICYA), also asked all oil firms operating in the oil-producing communities to quickly relocate if the government fails to meet their demands. 

President of the group, Uronne Ibitoye, at a press conference said they have directed their militants to be at alert and strike if the government fails to do the needful. 

Ibitoye noted that the Ondo State portion of the Niger Delta area is the most peaceful among the oil-producing states. He added that it appears the government is taking their peaceful nature for granted. 

According to him, the non-inclusion of Ondo representative in the board has denied them the opportunity to determine the projects that should be sited in their communities in the 2017 budget.

“We are appealing to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to wade into this matter and ensure the name of a competent and capable person is presented to the Senate for screening.

“We are also urging that the person to be nominated must be from and oil producing area in the state.“We also seize this  opportunity to appeal to the Senate to do justice immediately the name is forwarded to them so that our own representative can resume immediately,” Ibitoye said.