Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has called on the youth of the Nigerian Delta region to desist from vandalising NDDC projects or federal government assets in the region.
He also appealed to the Federal Government to intensify efforts at creating employment and other opportunities that will make life more meaningful for the teeming youth of the region.
Uzodimma made the call on Tuesday when he received at the Government House in Owerri the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, who was in Imo State on official duty with his key officials.
The governor also called for a comprehensive audit of all abandoned projects that litter the nooks and crannies of the states under the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Apart from the call for a comprehensive audit of all abandoned projects in the Ministry of Niger Delta and NDDC states, Governor Uzodimma further suggested that the Amnesty Programme of the ministry be strengthened to enable the people, particularly the youth of the region, to have commensurate value from the programme.
Governor Uzodimma requested that the minister mop up all federal allocations meant for the region and deploy them appropriately to ensure that the area is given what is due and appropriate to it in terms of infrastructure.
He promised to continue to support and partner with the Ministry of Niger Delta Development, NDDC and other agencies under the ministry, to achieve the expected goals.
Governor Uzodimma challenged the Ministry and NDDC to take a serious interest in the documentation and completion of the abandoned projects in the region, noting that “where all the abandoned projects are completed, the region will be more than 80 per cent developed.”
Earlier, while informing the governor on why he was in Imo State, Momoh said, his purpose was “to inspect ongoing projects of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development Area and the Niger Delta Development Commission and to solicit greater partnership and cooperation of the governors of the nine states of the region.”