Akpabio Unveils NDDC’s Youth Scheme, Declares Niger Delta Protest-Free Zone

Chief Godswill Akpabio, President of the Senate, has launched a Youth Internship Scheme initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for 10,000 Niger Delta youths.

Akpabio, speaking at the NDDC Executive Management Engagement with Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities and Selected Stakeholders in Port Harcourt, stated that the proposed nationwide protests by some youths would not take place in the Niger Delta’s nine states, describing the region as a protest-free zone.

The Senate President described the Youth Internship Scheme, stating that 10,000 youths would participate in the programme designed to improve their skills, and that the beneficiaries in the first phase would be paid N50,000 naira per month.

In a statement issued by Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs, Akpabio stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was committed to the development of the Niger Delta. He noted that, in response to a Presidential directive, the NDDC recently inaugurated five flagship projects across the region, including roads, bridges, and electricity.
He praised the NDDC for restoring some damaged sections of the East-West Road and promised that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project would begin not only in Lagos but also in the Niger Delta.

Akpabio stated that despite the challenges of developing the Niger Delta region, the NDDC had completed several projects that had improved people’s lives, promising that the Commission would now receive its full share of its statutory allocations.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, assured the audience that the Commission would continue to prioritise capital projects that would add value to the Niger Delta. He stated, “Our commitment is to work towards transforming the region in accordance with the 8-Point Presidential Priorities, as well as the demands of the NDDC Act of 2000.”
He thanked members of the National Assembly for quickly passing the Commission’s 2024 budget, which would set the tone for the implementation of projects and programs benefiting the people of the Niger Delta region.
Also speaking, NDDC Managing Director Dr Samuel Ogbuku stated that the people of the Niger Delta region had moved from militant agitation to intellectual struggle, and that the region was now reaping the benefits of those struggles.

Also speaking, NDDC Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku stated that the people of the Niger Delta region had transitioned from militant agitation to intellectual struggle, and that the region was now reaping the benefits of those struggles.
According to the NDDC boss, Project HOPE assisted the Commission in developing a comprehensive digital repository containing important information about Niger Delta youths such as their qualifications, skills, interests, needs, and current employment status.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC was collaborating with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce to train young people and entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region. He explained that the Commission would work with the Chamber of Commerce to support the region’s Small and Medium Enterprises and ensure the long-term viability of youth development programmes.
He added, “We will also collaborate with the Bank of Industry to fund projects, support businesses, and ensure the success of our empowerment programmes. We will provide all of the necessary support for youth entrepreneurship programs.”
Ogbuku urged Niger Deltans not to be drawn into any protest that would destabilise the country, as such action would stifle development and further impoverish ordinary people.

In his goodwill message, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, emphasised the importance of unity and peace in achieving progress. He praised the NDDC’s Board and Management for their collaborative efforts to develop the Niger Delta region.
In the same vein, PANDEF’s National Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Ibokessien, praised the NDDC’s numerous accomplishments and urged Niger Delta youths to disregard those calling for protest.
Ambassador Jonathan Lopkobiri, President of the Ijaw Youth Council, stated that Niger Deltans had no business with those inciting youths to anarchy. He observed that the protesters’ demands made no mention of the long-neglected East-West Road.
He praised the NDDC for providing a temporary reprieve for road users, noting that flooding remained a threat.