There was palpable tension in the oil rich Niger Delta region on Wednesday, as operational activities of OML 42 operated by Nigerian Petroleum iDevelopment Company Ltd, NPDC/Neconde JV, was halted by aggrieved youths of Gbaramatu kingdom over issues bothering to employment and empowerment.
The angry youths, in their large numbers, led by the President of Gbaramatu Youth Council (GYC), Comrade Shadrach Ebikeme, stormed the company’s Ekeremor Manifold loading point to stop further exploration until all necessary issues relating to employment and empowerment are resolved.
Among their demands were community development, youth employment, empowerment and award of contracts to the indigenes of the communities.
The aggrieved youths displayed various placards which include: “No employment, no operation,” “Gbaramatu youths marginalisation must stop,” “No youths inclusiveness, no movement of vessels”.
Others are “NPDC/NECONDE employ our youths, we have qualified graduates,”among others.
They were chanting war songs with their placards which even as the large number of youths threatened to continue to the protest to the further notice.
