Niger Delta stakeholders score Tinubu high on performance
Southsouth stakeholders have rated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu high on performance after two years in office.
They agreed that though there are still unresolved issues of resource control, fiscal federalism and marginalisation, Tinubu has done well in education, infrastructure, human capital development, repositioning of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and economic reforms.
The stakeholders include former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri; Kester Tawari Dortimi of the Forum for Ethnic Nationalities of the Niger-Delta (FENND), Blessed Ughere of the youth wing of Urhobo Progress Union(UPU), Sheriff Mulade of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, and Amorighoye Mene of Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILT).
Eradiri mentioned ongoing efforts to complete the East-West Road as one of the cardinal achievements of the President.
He added that the engagement of some firms, including Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, owned by Southsouth indigenes in securing oil facilities, showed that Tinubu understood the agitations in the region.
Eradiri said: “We also appreciate the President on the issue of developmental agencies that he has put in place, especially the Southsouth Development Commission. The President has announced the board. We are waiting for their inauguration and their kickoff. I thank the President for making the Niger Delta have its development commission.
“There is light everywhere at night in the Niger Delta because of the light-up initiative of Mr.President through the NDDC. The President appointed for the first time a very stable leadership for the NDDC and that leadership has been providing infrastructures and dealing with educational problems in the Niger Delta.
“You saw what the President is doing in the educational sector using the NDDC. The U-Lesson initiative, where every child is empowered with digital tools. Though they are not there yet, they are going there.
“In the oil sector, we have started producing above two million barrels, and we are looking at hitting three million barrels per day. This is all because of the policy, the security strategy and economic engagements that the President has brought on board.
‘’President Tinubu is putting his best and doing everything possible to change things.”
Dortimi, the convener of FENND, said Tinubu exceeded his mid-term goals by demonstrating commitment, dexterity and purposeful leadership.
He said the President demonstrated his commitment to education by introducing a student loan scheme and signing the Federal Maritime University Bill.
His words: “In education, President Tinubu has done well. Specifically, the students’ loans scheme ensures that no Nigerian who desires university education will be denied due to a lack of funds.”
“Also commendable is the signing into law of the Federal Maritime University, Okenrenkoko, Delta State. I am also very pleased with the establishment of the University of Technology in Ogoni, Rivers State.
“One remarkable trait of Mr. President is his ability to engage with the people, as was the case with the leaders of Ogoni land, who, after a roundtable discussion with him, got a specialised federal university to address the environmental challenges in the region.”
Dortimi described the recent Federal Technical Educational Policy of zero tuition fee as “highly commendable.” He said the policy could make “unemployable university graduates to be equipped with vocational and technical skills.’’
He said: “The new policy on technical education will be highly beneficial to us since our region hosts three of them. What these policies mean is that rather than have an army of unemployed university graduates, we will have a skilled workforce, capable of powering industry.”
