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Angry Youths Threaten NDDC With Shutdown Over Nonpayment Of N1.05 Billion

Hundreds of angry youths from coastal communities in the nine states of the Niger Delta on Wednesday threatened to invade and shut down the business activities of the Port Harcourt office of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over a delay in receiving payment for their work on a waterway project.

 

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Hundreds of angry youths from coastal communities in the nine states of the Niger Delta on Wednesday threatened to invade and shut down the business activities of the Port Harcourt office of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) over a delay in receiving payment for their work on a waterway project.

The delayed payment is worth a balance of N1.05 billion, which was allocated for clearing water hyacinth from the creeks and waterways of the region. The aggrieved youths who participated in the project are publicly asking why the NDDC officials continuing to withholding their payment unduly.

Some of the youths from the Peremabiri and Koluama communities of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area explained that the project was awarded by the last administration to over 700 youths from coastal communities of the Niger Delta states as part of a youth empowerment project.

They declared that they have handed the NDDC a 14-day ultimatum to commence the release of the project fund or face an invasion and shutdown of all activities.

The ex-militant leader and president of the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPDCI), Pastor Reuben Wilson, called for calm over the issue and advised the management of the NDDC to listen to voice of reasoning and release the project sum for the clearing of the water hyacinth.

According to him, “The youths have alleged that the money has been paid by the [federal government] and diverted by some persons. The youths are also aware that the money has been released since the assumption of the present administration.”

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Money