In view of the renewed restiveness in the Niger Delta Region and in a bid to bring peace to the region. ljaw Progressive Union of Aborigines has petitioned the Federal Government through the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs demanding urgent reactivation of the Ports in the Niger Delta area, including Warri, Sapele, Burutu and Calabar Ports.
The petition is contained in a letter dated 18th October, 2023, and signed Ikhide Ehighelua Esq, of the Ikhide Ehighelua & Co Chambers, which was addressed to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and copied to highly placed representatives of the people in the National Assembly including Senator Ede Dafinone National Assembly, Senator Joel Onowhakpor, National Assembly, Senator Ned Nwoko National Assembly, Hon. Benedict Etanabene, House of Representatives, Hon. Francis E. Waive, House of Representatives, and Hon. Nicholas Mutu House of Representatives Abuja.
Others are Hon. Julius Pondi House of Representatives, Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi House of Representatives, Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi House of Representatives, Hon. Ngozi Okolie House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Nwokolo House of Representatives, the Managing Director Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It document reads: “We are Solicitors acting on behalf of The Registered Trustees of ljaw Progressive Union of Aborigines hereafter referred to as our client and we write on their instructions as follows:
“Our clients are major stakeholders in the Niger Delta Affairs especially as it relates to Wan and environs in Delta State.
“It has been observed by our clients that over the years, successive Governments have neglected and undermined the development of Warri and environs, which same neglect appears to be replicated across the Niger Delta region.
“The contribution of this region to the economic well-being of this Nation cannot be overemphasised, yet it appears that their reward has been neglect and more degradation.
“In time past, Sapele, Wari, Burutu and even Calabar used to be bustling port cities with thriving focal economies associated with movement of goods in and out of those ports.
“As we write, there is hardly any motorable road in and out of Warri, Sapele, and Burutu towns in all directions which further worsens the state of the economic activities in these towns.
“Beyond these towns, there are smaller communities both on land and offshore locations which have become extremely worse off because of the neglect of the region.
“The object of our client in their correspondence is to draw your attention to the sore State of affairs in the area and to further demand immediate action aimed at alleviating the sufferings of the people in the region and reviving the region by the prompt refurbishment and reactivation of the various ports in the Niger Delta Region, to wit; the Sapele, Wari, Burutu, and Calabar ports.
“This call, according to our client, has become imperative because the non engagement of youths and local populace gainfully is a recipe for restiveness and strife.
“We count on you for your usual cooperation that in the next three months (90 days) we will begin to see positive changes in the regions”.
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