The Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, has called on the Niger Delta Avengers to find a peaceful means of registering their grievances instead of blowing up oil installations in the region.

Udengs Eradiri, President of the group, made the call at a press conference on Monday in commemoration of the 2016 Isaac Boro Day in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State.

“We appeal to the Niger Delta Avengers to stop the destruction of oil facilities, they should look for other ways of expressing their grievances and not resort to violence.
“The issues they are raising are valid and the government has taken some steps that are not in the interest of the region by slashing the budget for the amnesty programme, NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs amongst others,” Eradiri said.

He called on the Federal Government to a find a lasting solution by dialoguing with leaders of the Niger Delta, warning that military option may worsen the situation as it had not helped in the past.

“The Federal Government should engage the stakeholders of the Niger Dlta region to find lasting peace, as the military option has worsened the situation in the past, we have to try other methods of peace building,” he said.

The youth leader also called on the government to make the bidding process for oil blocks more open, adding that the 2017 date for the next round of bids presents an opportunity for the country to right the wrongs of the past.

With over 70 percent of diesel produced in the country, according to the IYC leader, there is need for the legalization of artisanal refineries instead of their destruction as currently done by security agents.