The Ugborodo Community Youth Development group has called for the immediate removal of Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for his refusal to dreg Escravos River.
In a letter addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the youth organization expressed dissatisfaction with Minister Oyetola’s performance, particularly regarding the development of maritime infrastructure in Delta State.
The youths highlighted unfulfilled promises concerning the dredging of the Escravos Bar Mouth and Warri River, projects deemed vital for the economic growth of the region.
Furthermore, the group criticized the Nigerian Ports Authority’s perceived neglect of Delta Ports, attributing this oversight to the current leadership’s indifference. They asserted that the administration’s focus appears to be skewed towards ports in Lagos State, thereby marginalizing other regions.
In a communiqué jointly signed by their President Mr. Wilson Ejeh and the P.R.O Mr. David Mamah, the Ugborodo community youths presented the following demands to President Tinubu:
Immediate dismissal of Minister Adegboyega Oyetola and the appointment of a competent successor.
Comprehensive personnel restructuring within the Nigerian Ports Authority to address the alleged neglect of Delta Ports.
Address the nonchalance exhibited towards the development of Delta Ports.
READ ALSO: Oyetola: the blue economy will generate $20 billion annually
Direct the management of NNPCL to immediately relocate the pipelines grounding vessels and big ships at the Escravos Bar Mouth.
Initiate immediate action towards the dredging of Escravos Bar Mouth and Warri River.
The statement read thus:
“We want to restate that our major anger is the indifference the Minister has demonstrated in your vessels access Delta Ports and subsequently revitalizing commercial activities in Delta and neighbouring states, for the overall benefit of the Nation.
“Your Excellency Sir, all entreaties made to the Minister and heads of parastatals under him, either addressed to Your Excellency, which was widely publicized in various print and online media deliberate attempt to project your administration in bad light before Deltans.
“It is vitally important at this juncture to emphasize that vessels that occasionally pass through the part of the importers.
“This leads to near comatose of the over 20 petrol depots in Delta State who are compelled to cough out times two of what urban residents spend to buy diesel, PMS (fuel) diesel and cooking gas for domestic use, compared to those in the towns environment by oil and gas majors, has killed fishing and other forms of whenever the aground at the Escravos Bar Mouth, they are quick to blame it on NNPCL pipelines, while the NNPCL on its part, gives an impression of helplessness.
“Previous governments had corruptly feasted on the situation at Escravos Bar Mouth, by awarding contracts for mere sweeping of the Bar, ignoring the real challenge of relocating the pipelines shallowly laid and dredging the Bar alongside the Warri River.
“Promised during your electioneering campaign, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola and heads of Nigerian wrongly feel that Your Excellency is only interested in further advancing the socio – economic life of ports in Lagos State.
“Your Excellency, the ultimatum we gave for the above demands, have since elapsed, there will be disruption in the smooth operations of the multinational oil and gas companies operating in our area, any moment from now modalities have been concluded for mass action, comprising men, women and youths of our community.”
Credible News.ng
