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Youths Profer Solution to Incessant Restiveness in the Niger Delta

Vanguard (Lagos)
NEWS
January 20, 2005
Posted to the web January 20, 2005

By Tommy Solomon
Uyo
YOUTHS from oil producing communities in Akwa Ibom State say that the solution
to restiveness and unemployment in the communities can be found if youths, and
not expatriates, are engaged to carry out some jobs in oil prospecting firms
doing business in the Niger Delta region.
Such Jobs according to the youths include crane operating,store-keeping,
electrical installations, mechanics and drilling.
The youths said the present situation where expatriates come into the country
under the guise of being full fledged engineers but are made to handle jobs
which could have been rightly and properly handled by some trained youths was
denying them the much needed employment and has led to capital flight.
The youths under the aegis of Community Watch of Nigeria in a statement
endorsed by their International President, Chief Samingo Etukakpan said Nigeria
has lost a whopping $60 billion through jobs which could have been handled by
Nigerian to expatriates.
They said Nigeria stands to lose another $7 billion this year alone since the
aforementioned artisans earn about $50,000 each monthly. According to the
group, the expatriate come into Nigeria through fake documents made for them
through the Nigerian Immigrations Service and the Customs.
"These expatriates came into Nigeria as specialized engineers but end up
struggling with Nigerians over minor jobs which they end up earning about $50,
000 monthly to the detriment of Nigerians," the Community Watch stated.
The group said as a first step, the Federal Government should thoroughly
investigate the complaints with the view to bringing violators of Nigeria's
expatriate quota to book. Said the Community Watch: "We implore government to
ensure that jobs meant for Nigerians in oil servicing companies are given to
local people and not expatriates.
It is by so doing that these oil producing communities will feel the impact of
oil drilled in their land".

   

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