The Federal Government has advised youths of the Niger Delta to rethink the consequences of their negative actions through violence and destruction of vital infrastructure like oil pipelines in their communities, saying such will not guarantee the development of the region.

Speaking through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement South-South, Gift Johnbull, at a one-day interactive session between stakeholders and ex-agitators in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, the government urged youths of the region to partner with security agents to secure national assets in the region.

This is as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) reiterated its commitment to work with host communities in the Niger Delta region towards lasting peace and economic prosperity.

Group CEO, Mele Kyari, committed during a dialogue session with the Niger Delta communities held in partnership with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-South) on Thursday.

Kyari, who was represented by the Head, Business Services of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Sani Kabo, said the coming of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has emplaced allocation of three per cent of NNPC Ltd’s operational expenditures (OPEX) to community development.

He stressed that the directive is a development that will ensure projects reflect the communities’ priorities while investing in skills acquisition, community empowerment, and sustainable livelihood initiatives for the benefit of the various communities.

Kyari mentioned that NNPC Ltd is committed to sustained dialogue with traditional, ex-agitators and youth leaders towards addressing local concerns and restoring trust across the nine Niger Delta states. He said the engagement marked an important step in the journey to strengthen unity and promote development in the region through the Third Phase Amnesty Program.