Protesting Edo youths disrupted activities at Benin Airport

By Ehi Ekhator

Youth in thousands from oil producing communities in Edo State disrupted activities at the Benin Airport for more than three hours yesterday, protesting the appointment of Edo State Commissioner into the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, by President Goodluck Jonathan, which they said has been delayed.

The youth gave the President one week to appoint a commissioner to represent the state on the board of the commission or they shut down all oil wells in the state.

It was gathered that the angry youth had last month, issued a 21 day ultimatum to the President to appoint an NDDC Commissioner in Edo state or be ready to face the wrath of people from the oil producing communities.

The protesters yesterday created tension on the Airport Road by blocking the exit gates, sending passenger backs, thereby disrupted the activities at the Benin Airport.

The Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, after intervening and appealing to the youth to allow people move into the airport, led to the calm and disperse of the protesters at about 11 am.

One of the protesters, Mr. Iyamu Culture who talked with newsmen revealed that they were protesting because the ultimatum given to the President to appoint an NDDC commissioner for the state has expired.

He said: “We are protesting because the situation is affecting youth development in Edo State. As we speak, the NDDC has resolved to empower youths in all the nine Niger Delta states. With the non-appointment of Edo State NDDC Commissioner, Edo youths might not benefit from that. Projects have also been put on hold in the state due to the non-appointment of a commissioner. We are urging Mr President to act by appointing a substantive commissioner from any quarters as long as the person is from an oil producing community.”

 

Protesting Edo youths disrupted activities at Benin Airport