The Niger Delta youths under the umbrella bodies of ‘Young Democratic Movement’ and ‘South-South Youth Assembly’ have called on the Federal Government to allow the region to directly sell its oil as it recently allowed Zamfara State to sell its gold.
The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, recently sold gold bars to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) worth about N5billion.
Irked by such move by the governor, the Niger Delta youths in a world press conference held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, yesterday, said if the Federal Government fails to accede to their demands within one week they would stage a protest that would draw the attention of the international communities.
Speaking through the Leader, Young Democratic Movement (YDM), Kuseme Idiong, and Speaker, South-South Youth Assembly (SSYA), Comrade Victor Thompson, the youths also called for proceeds of all minerals extracted in any part of the country to be shared among all the states as it is the case with oil derivatives from the Niger Delta region.
The youth groups insisted that the gold found in any state belongs to the Federal Government, the revenue generated from such mineral resources like gold should be shared among all the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), just as it is done with the Niger Delta oil.
The text partly reads, “The state government has no such audacity to sell gold bars to the apex bank worth close to about N5billion. The Federal Government must allow Niger Delta to directly sell her oil just as the recent case of Zamfara gold bar.
“For the record, Item 39 under the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) states that mines and minerals including oil fields, oil mining, geological surveys and natural gas are exclusively under the control of the Federal Government.
“The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, which was passed into law on March 16, 2007, to repeal the Minerals and Mining Act, No. 34 of 1999 to regulate the exploration and exploitation of solid materials in Nigeria vested the control of all properties and minerals in Nigeria in the state, and prohibit unauthorised exploration or exploitation of minerals.”
They also urged the Federal Executive Council and the National Assembly to revisit the derivative funds’ formula for oil-rich Niger Delta states noting that ‘oil-producing states are fed below the 13% derivation.’
Meanwhile, a group under the aegis of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA) has said that it would resume hostilities in Niger Delta region, if Federal Government refuses to address the demands of the #EndSARS protesters.
The group made its position known in a communique read by its Leader, ‘Gen’ Johnmark Ezonebi, aka Obama, and made it available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, last Monday.
The group warned the Federal Government not to commence the military operation ‘Crocodile Smile’ in the Niger Delta, if it fails to meet the demands of the protesting youths in the country.
The statement reads: “We will engage the troops attached to the proposed operation ‘Crocodile Smile’ and resume attacks on some identified oil facilities in the region, if issues of poor welfare, armed oppression and inequality in the standard of living between the citizens and the political elite are not addressed.
“RNDA leadership has directed its strike force unit commanders in all the nine militant groups to be on standby and maintain visibility on identified locations with study and locations striking methods (VSLSM).
“We may resume heavy destruction of major crude oil pipelines and their platforms, including the major gas distribution pipelines from Escravos-Warri-Kaduna.
“Also targeted are major target pipelines, including the Chevron Valve Platform located at Abiteye, Warri-South Local Government Area, Delta State, and this is one of Chevron’s most significant platform and it serves as a connecting point where all other Chevron’s Niger Delta platforms link up.”
The group also threatened to attack “Shell underwater Forcados 48-inch export pipeline which connects from Clough Creek through River Ramos Creek delivery line to the Forcados Terminal, a major and one of Nigeria’s highest crude delivery pipeline will be brought down as well as the major Escravos trans Lagos pipeline linking Warri to Lagos.
“Major gas pipeline that supplies both Lagos and Abuja with constant electricity supply will be cut off and other several gas and oil pipelines belonging to the NNPC located near Warri within the hinterland will also be blown up.
“The major Chevron main electricity feedback pipelines located at the Escravos Tank Farm at Ciera Creek will not be left out in this well-coordinated attack, the major one of the highest crude oil-producing wells owned by Chevron, which are RMP23 and RMP24 all located near Dibi in Delta State and it contributes majorly to the daily crude oil production chain of the country will all be blown up and cut to zero level and the Bunny Nembe Creek trunk pipeline located at Bonny Export Terminal line will not be left out,” the militants warned.
The group further called on Federal Government to use the good opportunity to restructure the country for true federalism where resource control would be alternative.

By: Enoch Epelle