Federal Government of Nigeria (FG) says it will begin to pay N50,000.00 each to ten thousand (10,000) youths of the Niger Delta region.
The payment will be accomplished through the Youth Internship Scheme initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio made the promise when he launched the scheme in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
The event in Port Harcourt was christened: "NDDC Executive Management Engagement with Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities and Selected Stakeholders."
Together with the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission Dr Samuel Ogbuku, Senator Akpabio called on youths and people of the region to shun the planned August 1 protest against economic hardship.
Senator Akpabio declared that the proposed nationwide protests by some youths would not take place in the nine states of the Niger Delta.
The Senate president described the Niger Delta region as a protest-free zone.
He said: “ The 10,000 youths would be engaged in the programme designed to improve their skills, noting that the beneficiaries in the first phase would be paid N50,000 monthly.”
Senator Akpabio assured the people of the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to develop the region.
He informed that the NDDC, following a presidential directive, recently inaugurated five flagship projects covering roads, bridges, and electricity across the region including restoring some damaged sections of the East-West Road.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr Chiedu Ebie, assured that the Commission would continue to focus on completing capital projects that would add value to the Niger Delta region.
