The Niger Delta Youth Council (NDYC) has urged the Federal Government to urgently inaugurate a new Board for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to avoid strife in the region.

The youths said if the Board is not inaugurated on or before the end of April as stated by the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, “we will have no option than to shut down the economy of the region.”

The Council, including representatives of like-minded groups in the region, made the call at a peaceful protest on Thursday in Warri.

Scores of protesters converged on the Warri axis of the East-West Road around Effurun Roundabout to express their grievances over the administration of the NDDC.

They said they will call on the international community to assist them in recovering the loot at the Commission should the Federal Government fail to address the alleged frauds perpetrated there.

National Coordinator of the Council, Mr Jator Abido, said that their peaceful disposition should not be taken for granted.

“If the Board is not inaugurated on or before the end of April as stated by the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, we will have no option than to shut down the economy of the region,” he said.

Abido also frowned at the process of appointing the Sole Administrator for the NDDC Board without consulting governors and other relevant stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

Also, Mr Collins Achakpekri, the International Representative of NDYC, and Mrs Princess Pinapinawie, representative of Concern Women in the Oil Producing Region, alleged that the emergence of a sole administrator was to cover up for the results of the forensic audits.

The protesters alleged multiple corruption at the Commission and urged the Federal Government to allow the anti-graft agencies to carry out their investigation without interference from the Presidency.

“As it stands today, the Niger Delta region is the most peaceful in the nation except the government is not appreciating the efforts of the leadership of the NDYC and other formidable youth groups,” Achakperi said. (NAN)