IYC Writes Tinubu Over Relocation Of IOCs Headquarters, Hardship, Imminent Revolution

By Ndu Samuel

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has written His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over what it described as the urgent relocation of Multinational Oil and Gas Companies Headquarters back to the Niger Delta region.

The apex Ijaw Youth body asserted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must quickly address this issue and settle the bitting hardship the country is experiencing before it degenerates into a revolution by Nigerians.

This was contained in a statement signed on behalf of Council by Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill, Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, a copy of which was sent to The Liberator Newspapers Worldwide yesterday.

The statement reads in full below:

Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide

Press Statement

20/02/2024

Relocate IOCs Headquarters Back To Niger Delta Now, Address Hardship Faced By Nigerians, IYC Tells President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to quickly activate plans in relocating Headquarters of International Oil and Gas Companies operating in Niger Delta region back to the region.

As a council, we expect that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, the entire National Executive Council of the country and other relevant agencies take this message serious as we will not accept anything other than the urgent relocation of these companies Headquarters back to our region.

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide strongly believes that there will be no excuse on the part of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the multinational oil companies in relocating their headquarters as Niger Deltans cannot continue to be sacrificial lambs in this country. There should be no argument as the Tinubu led Federal Government of Nigeria has relocated Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from Abuja to Lagos.

As if this was not enough, it was later followed by announcement from the Central Bank of Nigeria that it would be moving some key departments from the capital, Abuja to Lagos, the country’s commercial nerve centre.

The Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, also said it would relocate some of its departments and units from Abuja to Lagos despite spending N70billion to build new headquarters in Abuja. From the foregoing and the high level of nepotism ongoing in other sectors, particularly under the Tinubu Presidency, we believe firmly that the IOCs Headquarters will urgently be relocated to their original base which is the Niger Delta without any further delay. You cannot rub Peter to pay Paul. This is long over due and if not done may lead to unimaginable consequences.

Before our very eyes, Nigerian Agip Oil Company was sold through the back door to Oando, a crony of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a similar manner, this is how an attempt was made by the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with Shell to sell off its onshore assets under the guise of divestment to a Consortium without giving host communities the right of first refusal coupled with the many years of environmental damage without clean up.

Too many gerrymandering, political maneuvering and nepotism ongoing in the Tinubu led Federal Government of Nigeria, the Government must not appear to be on a punitive mission against Nigerians that voted for it.

Nigerians are yet to see the specific economic recovery plans the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has for Nigeria that will make life easier for the masses. Nigerians are dying of hunger, suffering like never before from the modus operandi and the policies of the Federal Government.

The steady fall of the naira against the dollar, removal of fuel subsidy and the hike in pump price of fuel. Clearly, the hike ìn pump price of fuel from the subsidy removal has made every commodities in the market high astronomically, and this has affected virtually every area of our lives in this country, be it transportation, building materials etc.

The Niger Delta people, particularly the Ijaw people living in the riverine part of the country are more affected in this hike and bitting economy. For example if a litre of fuel is sold for N700 in the cities , the riverine communities indigenes who solely depend on black market will be buying a litre of fuel above a N1000, this itself indicates the prices of other commodities they will be buying in markets that are domiciled in the rural areas.

The Federal Government of Nigeria should be aware that Government looses legitimacy when its citizens have no more confidence in it and revolt against it by taking their destinies into their hands hence a revolt becomes the only available option, Nigerians deserved a decent life after being through a lot. How can life become more worse than ever before when Nigerians are supposed to be happy and enjoying the country. The policies of the Tinubu led Federal Government of Nigeria are not working and there is need to review them, we cannot continue to pretend about it. Our people are suffering and dying daily .

Issues of insecurity in the North is still biting hard for which farmers can no longer go to their farmlands . What Nigerians need now is a sincere commitment on the part of the Government in tackling these myriads of issues engulfing the country.

Finally, as a people, we don’t know how much time we have left to continue to remain idle on the face of this brazen neglect of the Ijaw people, the political manipulation and suffering of Niger Delta people and Nigerians has become unending and getting worst by the day ,we are running out of patience. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, the Government is pushing Nigerians to the wall.

Signed.
Amb. Binebai Yerin Princewill
Spokesman Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide