Ijaw Youth Council Urges Implementation of 2014 Confab and Relocation of IOCs for Region’s Development

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has recently released a New Year’s message, urging the Federal Government, International Oil Companies (IOCs), Niger Delta governors, and other relevant agencies to promptly initiate the relocation of oil companies’ headquarters to the Niger Delta region.

Additionally, the IYC has underscored the significance of swift development in the region and the execution of the 2014 Constitutional Conference (Confab) reports, emphasizing their persistent advocacy for fiscal federalism. These demands were communicated alongside a plea for sustainable peace in the region and the rest of the nation, as the council maintains that peace is essential for the urgent development required in the region.

The group has expressed its dedication to advocating for peace and has urged the Federal Government and its partners to act equitably and justly towards the Ijaw people and other minorities in Nigeria, in their pursuit of a dignified way of life.

The IYC has highlighted the fact that despite 25 years passing since its establishment via the Kaiama Declaration on December 11, 1998, the struggle for fiscal federalism for all federating units in Nigeria to control resources in their region has not made significant progress. It was asserted that it is disheartening to witness the exploitation of the Ijaw people and Niger Deltans persisting without any justice, particularly when other resources such as gold in states like Zamfara are not being fairly distributed.

The group has also drawn attention to the imbalance in the treatment of resources, questioning why the proceeds from Nigeria’s oil and gas are made public while resources like gold are not equally distributed. This call for fairness and equity in resource distribution reflects the IYC’s ongoing commitment to sustainable justice and development in the region.

Moreover, the IYC has urged interventionist agencies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Niger Delta Ministry, and other related agencies to initiate the physical implementation of projects in Niger Delta communities. The council has emphasized that there should be no excuses for the lack of development in the Niger Delta region, as it has remained stagnant for far too long.

The Ijaw Youth Council has reaffirmed its dedication to engaging with authorities consistently to ensure that the necessary steps are taken for the betterment of their people.