A group, the Youth Coalition Force For Niger Delta (YCFND) has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for releasing N1 billion to support essential infrastructure works and staff recruitment for the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State.
YCFND, in a statement by Gabriel Godson-Ndinwa, said, “We were becoming apprehensive that two months after the Vice President made the declaration of the release of the fund at Ondo, the fund was not released to the management of the university until just last week.
“There is no doubt that the maritime university will be a peace building bridge between the people of the Niger Delta region and Federal Government. The commencement of employment and academic activities will serve as a panacea to poverty alleviation within the coastal belt of the region.
“We were delighted at the recent disclosure made by the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs on the 11th of November that five billion naira was approved by the President as budgetary allocation in the proposed 2018 budget submitted to the National Assembly.
“However, the deployment of troops to the peace- seeking South-South, is anathemic to the need for true development”.
It is vexatious that our fellow citizens are unnecessarily being haunted and deprived of the remaining self-esteem after our lands and resources have been plundered by non-Niger Deltans.
“We hereby sue for restraint on the part of the Federal Government. Truly, the Federal Government should expedite the implementation of the new and prosperous Niger Delta master plan as earlier promised.
“These would engender peace and development.
“We also appeal to Avengers to drop their arms and give the Federal Government the chance to rekindle our faith and show truer commitment to peace and rapid development within the next six months.
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