•Urge dialogue to address issues, call on NNPC to accommodate Ogoni interests in pipeline protection contracts

The National Youth Council of Ogoni People (NYCOP), the youth wing of MOSOP, has strongly warned Ogoni youths against threats to disrupt oil flow through the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP). NYCOP says while it backs the demand for surveillance contracts for Ogoni youths, it considers the threats to shut down the TNP as a wrong and violent approach to address their grievances.

President of NYCOP, Theophilus Mbagha Esq., made this known recently in Bori in reaction to threats by some Ogoni youths to shut down the TNP over pipeline surveillance contracts.

Recall that some Ogoni youths, on Wednesday, under the auspices of Youth Leaders of Ogoni Oil Host Communities had threatened to shut down the pipelines should the NNPC fail to award pipeline surveillance contracts to them within 14 days.

“I want to call on our youths to desist from issuing threats as a means of achieving their goals. If there are issues, we should explore all peaceful means to dialogue and get things resolved. That is the position of NYCOP on the issue.

“While we support the award of the pipeline contracts to Ogoni youths as a means of engaging them meaningfully, we strongly discourage the use of threats and acts of violence as a means to achieve goals,” Mbagha said.

Mbagha assured the youths of his support at all times and urged them to conduct themselves peacefully in their quest to be heard and seek redress of all kinds.

He further encouraged Ogoni youths to be hopeful in the commitment of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) to protect the interest of Ogoni youths. He assured that the President of MOSOP, Fegalo Nsuke is very committed to youth development.

He urged Ogoni youths to avoid all violent tendencies and maintain the peace in Ogoni communities.