NDDC: Angry Ijaw Youths Block East-West Road Over Okon Appointment As Sole Administrator

NDDC: Angry Ijaw Youths Block East-West Road Over Okon Appointment As Sole Administrator

…reject the appointment of Sole Administrator

Francis Tayor

Yenagoa____ Angry Ijaw youths on Monday blocked the East-West road in protest over the appointment of a Sole Administrator instead of a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The protesters marched at the strategic Mbiama-Yenagoa junction of the federal highway using trailer, trucks and other objects to barricade the road leaving commuters stranded for hours.

Not even the deployment of armed soldiers and anti-riot policemen in the area could deter the protesters.

Thousands of early morning travellers along the East-West road were stranded for hours following the angry protest by Ijaw Youths over the appointment Of Okon-Awka as NDDC Sole Administrator.

The protesting youths, arrived the East -West along the Mbiama axis at about 6.30am in protest against the appointment of Effiong Okon-Akwa, as the Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa, who was appointed by President Mohammed Buhari last week, has provoked anger among stakeholders and Youths from the region who demanded the setting up of a substantive management board for the region.

Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa was the Ag. Executive Director, Finance and Administration of the Commission, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, and a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria before his appointment.

The protest on Monday, led Ebilade Ekerefe, Spokesman of IYC, the Chairman of the Central Zone of IYC, Comrade Inodu Clever and Treasurer of IYC accused the Minister of Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio of pocketing the region and playing politics with NDDC thereby undermining the region development for selfish gains .

Comrade Ebilade said “Niger Delta is not your personal estate ; you cannot pocket a region .We say no to the appointment of a sole administrator. Sole administrator is alien to NDDC act”.

The blockage has led to heavy traffic gridlock with travelers plying the route stranded .