Southeast Youths Demand Dredging Of River Niger, Roads, IGP Slot To Stop Agitation

Youths from Southeast region of Nigeria, Monday, requested the federal government to immediately commence the dredging of River Niger, completion of the Akanu Ibiam Airport, Enugu, and appoint the next inspector general of police after the tenure of IGP Mohammad Adamu from Southeast.

These demands were made through the chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum and governor of Ebonyi State, Engr David Umahi, after a meeting of the stakeholders with youths of the zone in Abakaliki. Gov Umahi stated that the youths expressed joy with the progress of work on the second Niger Bridge, but called for a quicker approach.

According to the governor, “The youths are requesting that the federal government should complete the dredging of the River Niger. They are also grateful to the federal government for the upgrading of facilities at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu. The youths also tasked the governors of Southeast states to engage critical stakeholders in the ongoing protests in their respective states and local security architecture.

“They also demanded massive rehabilitation of the federal roads in the Southeast, especially Enugu/Onitsha highway, Port-Harcourt highway, Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene highway, Ikot Ekpene/Aba highway, Abakaliki/Enugu highway, Aba/Owerri road, Umuahia/Arochukwu road, Abakaliki/Ogoja road, Abakaliki/Afikpo road, Uturu/Ishiagu/Nguzu Edda road, and Owerri/Porth Harcourt road. I can say that the federal government is already working on some of them.”

Gov Umahi, who commended the youths for streamlining their demands peacefully and in unison, added that they also pledged to stop tendencies that could ignite problems in the ongoing protest across the federation.

In his words, “I promised them that I am going to take these demands to Mr President. I believe that they are going to reciprocate from now and cessation of hostilities in every part of Southeast and anywhere they are involved in the country will cease. We have directed our people everywhere in the country and outside the country to stop protests.”

On the absence of anyone from Southeast in the nation’s security echelons, Umahi said, “The youths also demanded that at the expiration of the tenure of this inspector-general of police, that the Southeast should be given an opportunity to also occupy the position. This they say I should also tell Mr President so that they will also have sense of belonging. I believe very strongly that we have struck the iron while it is very hot.”

He said an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting involving the youths with ministers and other stakeholders from the region would hold in Enugu to consolidate the gains already established, aimed at engaging the youths of the zone meaningfully.