The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide have tasked President Muhammadu Buhari on economic plan for the people of the Niger Delta.

The youths said they are not against the president’s moves to curb oil-related theft in the region, but advised president Buhari to do the needful before deploying soldiers in the region.

Speaking at a news conference in Yenagoa after an expanded meeting of executives of the body, IYC President, Mr Udengs Eradiri, urged Buhari to go after the big men stealing oil in large quantities.

“We are not against the stoppage of vandalism of oil pipelines but he must have an economic plan. Our people right now need to survive. There is no more fishing in our areas and our lands can no longer produce the kind of things they used to produce. It is our position that while Buhari is coming to fight the menace, he must come with an economic plan,” he said. 

He also lamented that many oil-related projects in the region had been abandoned by the Federal Government, insisting that there should be a clear-cut programme by the government in expanding the ports.