HUNDREDS of Niger Delta youths have staged a protest over the failure of the Federal Government to constitute a substantive board for the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The youths under the aegis of South-South Youths Initiative, during the protest at the headquarters of the NDDC in Port Harcourt on Tuesday accused the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, of working against the development of the region.

The National Coordinator of SSYI, Imeabe Oscar, lamented that delay in the constitution of a board for the commission was not in the interest of the region.

“All we are asking is that the NDDC, under Senator Godswill Akpabio, should immediately constitute a substantive board for the NDDC.

“He told us that the board would be constituted on the 30th of July; we have been waiting up to this moment. Instead of constituting the board, what we are still having is a Sole Administrator.

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“It is unfortunate that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs has chosen to play games with the people of Niger Delta. We thought that as a son of Niger Delta, he would work to ensure a board for the commission and ensure development and employment.

“He (Akpabio) has slowed down the development and activities of the Niger Delta people. He wants us to shutdown the office totally before he will come and do the right thing.

“This is just the day one of this protest, we will continue it, because he has failed to listen to the Niger Delta People,” he added.

When contacted, the NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Dr. Ibitoye Abosede, could not be reached for comments through his mobile phone as of the time of filing this report.