By FELIX UKAH, Abakaliki

Youths from South East geo- political zone have reeled out demands from Federal government of Nigeria.

Their demands include dredging of River Niger, Completion of making the Akanu Ibiam Airport International.

The Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum, Engineer David Umahi, Governor of Ebonyi state said that stakeholders for the zone met with the youths who expressed happiness with ongoing work at the second Niger Bridge but noted that it should be expedited.

They also demanded that someone from South East should be considered to become IGP after the incumbent .

“I promised them to take their demands to the President. The youths are requesting that the federal government should complete the dredging of the river Niger.”

The youths of the south east are grateful to the federal government for the upgrading of facilities at the Akanu Ibiam international Airport Enugu. The youths are demanding that the remaining works at the airport should be expeditiously completed as matter of urgency.

The youths are grateful to the federal government on the progress of work at the 2nd Niger bridge.

They however demand an update on the work and specific completion timeline. The youths also tasked the Governors of south east to engage critical stakeholders in the ongoing protests in their respective states and local security architecture”.

“The youths also demanded massive rehabilitations of the federal roads in the South East 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, Owerri/Porth Harcourt road. I can say that the federal government is already working on some of them”

“These are the demands of the youths and I think these youths are very reasonable in the demands and what they brought to the table is that all protests, all divisive words, all destructive tendencies will be stopped immediately.”

“I promised them that I am going to take these demands to Mr. President and I believe that they are going to reciprocate from now and cessation of hostilities in every part of South East 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”

“The youths also demanded that when this Inspector-General of Police who is doing tremendously very well, at the time of his retirement that the South East should be given an opportunity to also occupy the position. This they say I should also tell Mr. President so that they will also feel belonging.”

“So, I believe very strongly that we have struck the iron while it is very hot and within this week, will be engaging an enlarged stakeholders meeting where our Ministers and other stakeholders will join us in a physical meeting in Enugu so that we can further the gains of this our interaction with the youths”. (Daily Independent)

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