Monarch Blames Oil Firms For Youth Restiveness

Youth restiveness in Niger Delta region has been attributed to the neglect of unemployed youths by oil companies operating in the region.
Paramount Ruler of Apara Kingdom, King Chika Worlu Wodo, Eze Oha Apara IV, stated this during a  tour visit by participants of Senior Executive Course 43, National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), Kuru, led by Director General, Brigadier Gen Chukwuemeka Udaya, (rtd).
The Paramount Ruler insisted that the neglect of the youths by International Oil Companies (IOCs) is beginning to have a toll on the lives of the people of oil producing communities.
Eze Wodo said the  insensitivity of the oil companies to the plight of the host communities is negatively affecting the youths.
“The insensitivity with which oil companies treat the issues of unemployment, health and environmental standard is unacceptable and they should be held accountable,” he said.
The first class traditional ruler noted that the youths are restive, because their needs such as employment are not given to them by oil firms.
“Oil companies failed to engage these unemployed youths in their companies, thereby causing restiveness and violent approaches”. Youth restiveness cannot be ruled out in our environment because of unemployment, lifestyles and obvious inequality gap that is prevalent in our society”, he said.
The King also called on the Federal Government to proffer lasting solutions that would curb conflicts and communal clashes between farmers and cattle breeders in Nigeria.
He noted with dismay that cattle breeders take laws into their hands, destroying crops, without feeling the impacts of the farmers.
On security, King  Wodo commended Governor Nyesom Wike for providing gunboats for the Navy and marine police to tackle piracy along the waterways.
He noted that the Governor has done well in maintaining peace and security across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Earlier, Director General, NIPSS, Brigadier Gen Chukuemeka Udaya (rtd), said the participants of NIPSS Course 43 were in the state to conduct research on the  theme, “Getting Things Done, Strategy for Policy Programme and Implementation in Nigeria”.
Represented by Prof Fatayi Ariemu,  Udaya said there is improvement in participatory governance in the state, saying, the state is working because there is a continuous stakeholders engagement.
Brigadier Gen Udaya noted that citizens engagement and policy engagement programming are the best ways of getting things done in a civilised society.
Rivers State, he said is working as a government and as a State.

By: Chinedu Wosu