Nigerian Violence to Erupt Again»

The Niger Delta Youth Coalition (NDYC) has threatened to resume the bombings of crude oil pipelines in Delta State if the government does not meet its five demands.

In a letter addressed to President Olusegun Obasanjo, the group demanded the immediate removal of the senior special adviser to the president, Mr Edward Dakoru and the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engineer Funsho Kupolokun from office.

The forum further demanded that the two men should be dragged before the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for their alleged involvement in a 61m dollars fraud in 1993. The group argued that since nobody from Delta State had ever occupied the position of group managing director of NNPC, the present director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Mac Ofurhie, should be appointed to head the corporation.

The statement warned that if the demands are not met before February 15th 2004 "We shall resume the bombings of crude oil pipelines in Delta State."

It added "We have watched with keen interest the happenings in the Nigerian economy particularly the oil sector, where the bulk of the oil produced in the country is from Delta State."

"Unfortunately, the state has not benefited much from these resources. It has not been favoured in appointments in the oil sector since 1999."