Tinubu’s intervention in Niger Delta enough to discourage youth protest -Minister

Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, on Wednesday declared that President Bola Tinubu’s efforts in the Niger Delta region are enough reason to discourage the youths in the area from joining any protest.

Momoh also said that there is nobody in the country, including the President, who is averse to genuine protest, but the consequences of the action may affect the economic and development strides of the government.

Speaking to newsmen on the planned protest over hunger and bad governance, Momoh said that the intervention of Tinubu in the provision of infrastructure so far has been unprecedented.

“We are very lucky to have the person of President Ahmed Tinubu that is deeply committed towards the overall development of the country irrespective of the area.

“We know that a number of projects are going on in this country, projects that were never attempted by previous administrations despite the fact that there are lean resources in government now. I am surprised and I wonder if you see what is going on in this administration.

“And what we have observed is that it appears the majority of Nigerians, particularly the youths, are not very much conversant with a number of programs put in place to alleviate the suffering of the youths of this very country.

“And to start from my end in the Niger Delta Region, I think the President has done a lot for which I don’t think any person who is from the Niger Delta area will deem it necessary to come out and say he’s protesting against bad governance.

“The number of projects that have been executed in the South-South region and particularly the Niger Delta region within this one year cannot be compared with what has happened previously in the last four years. For instance, recently, you watched us on the screen commissioning projects in the Niger Delta area,” he said.

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The minister noted that there are quite a number of welfare programmes that are ongoing in the region, adding that the Tinubu administration embarked on empowerment and welfare programmes for the first time in the history of the ministry.

“Today a number of women and youths have benefitted reasonably and today too Mr. President has also graciously approved the release of funds to address the flooded area of the Niger Delta and also palliatives for the people of the Niger Delta.

“In addition to what he has done for the State government you are aware that a number of relief materials have been sent through various state governors to the people of Nigeria,” he said.

Continuing, Momoh added, “On the issue of protest, I don’t think there is anybody including the President of this country who would think protesting is a sin but what we are saying is that in the name of protest, do not come and cause mayhem or destroy the properties of innocent citizens, do not come and cause mayhem because the freedom you have to protest has a limit you do not have freedom to protest and cause destruction.

“So the youths, the country is your own, the future is your own. If you destroy what you will live upon in the future then it becomes a serious problem.

“I will appeal to the youth of this country to take advantage of the numerous youth programs initiated by this government, take advantage of them.”