NDDC: Niger Delta Militants Vow To Cripple Oil Installations After Seven Days

 

Niger Delta militants have given the Federal Government seven days to inaugurate the substantive board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

 

The coalition of militant groups from the nine states of the Niger Delta led by the Supreme Egbesu Freedom Fighters (SEFF) said it will cripple oil installations in the region if the Federal Government fails to implement its demand. 

 

According to DailyPost, the militants, who backed a similar ultimatum issued by a former Niger Delta warlord, Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo, said they would shut down all major flow stations, oil wells and pipelines owned by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

 

They asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call Akpabio and his cronies to order and immediately inaugurate the board to avert the looming huge blow on crude oil production.

 

While supporting the ongoing protest of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, the militants said after the ultimatum, they would shut down the Escravos-Warri to Kaduna NNPC major delivery crude lines, the Escravos Lagos Atlas Cove and the Trans-Escravos Warri-Kaduna gas line supplying electricity to Abuja.

 

They also threatened to disrupt the operations of the Trans-Forcados 48-inch terminal underwater Shell/NNPC crude pipeline and the Chevron RMP24 Clough Creek if Akpabio refuses to allow the Federal Government inaugurate the NDDC board.

 

The coalition in a statement issued on Monday through an electronic mail at the end of an emergency meeting convened by the SEFF’s Commanding Officer, ‘General Agadagba Obus popularly called Thunder, said the Trans-Nembe Bonny Creek Crude Pipeline would not be excluded from the coordinated operation.

 

The militants in the statement said: “And if Akpabio refuses to yield to this noble piece of advice and still go against the common interest of the Niger Delta people and decide to continue to hold the entire Niger Delta region to ransom and refuse to let go his grip, the economic consequences of our planned action should be on him.

 

The militants said they would not fold their arms and allow Akpabio and his cohorts to rubbish the collective will and aspirations of the Niger Delta people.

 

They said Akpabio’s strangulation of the NDDC was frustrating the tireless peace efforts of some political leaders like the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-agege.

 

The militants noted that Akpabio’s grip on the NDDC under the guise of conducting a forensic audit was a ploy to shortchange other states in the Niger Delta region.

 

They said despite not being part of the ongoing secession agitation in the Southeast, the federal government still turned deaf ears to their agitation for the inauguration of the NDDC board.

 

They said: “It is high time Mr. President and the APC-led federal government listened to the outcry of the large population of the Niger Delta region and urgently inaugurate the NDDC board for the interest of peace before it is too late.