Former militant leaders, under the aegis of
Urhobo Gbagbako, are demanding the
overhaul of the Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC).
According to them, this is to pave way for “genuine
host communities” to be physically captured in the
interventionist agency’s development programmes.
Ships and Ports reports that the ex-militants in
addition, called for the restructuring of the amnesty
programme to accommodate those who surrendered
arms and were issued with Joint Task Force (JTF)
certificates but are yet to be documented for payment
and training.
In a statement by their spokesman, Priest
Omodjuvwu, the group vowed to fight the NDDC to
a logical conclusion as those appointed into the board
have not given priority to the host communities
“There has not been any mention of oil blocs
being allocated to a few highly placed
individuals outside the Niger Delta region nor
plans by the Federal Government to ameliorate
the continuous despoliation of the Niger Delta
environment with unending exploration and
exploitation of our crude oil,’’ the group
claimed. The group however, tasked Buhari administration to
look into the plights of the Niger-Delta people “No
one has talked about relocating the head
offices of oil producing companies from Lagos
and Abuja to the Niger Delta region. Our
president must be reminded that the Niger
Delta amnesty programme was not initiated by
the late President UmaruYar’Adua
administration because of his love for the
Niger Delta but to guarantee continued oil
production,” the group stated.

We are waiting and watching...