THE NATION

A rights activist, Comrade Israel Joe, has said the disbursement of funds by the Federal Government for the rehabilitation of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), will be monitored.

The Federal Executive Council on Wednesday voted $1.484billion for the rehabilitation of Warri and Kaduna refineries in Delta and Kaduna states.

Joe, in a statement to reporters yesterday, hailed the Federal Government for the approval of the funds, noting that it was part of the demands by youths during the #EndSARS protest last October.

The statement recalled that youths across Delta State had at meetings with Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, in Warri and Asaba, canvassed for operations to resume at the WRPC, among other dying government establishments in the state.

It said the rehabilitation of the refinery would boost economic activities and reduce unemployment among youths in the area.

“On behalf of Delta State youths and other southern youths, I commend the Federal Government for the approval of the rehabilitation of the Warri refinery. This is a sign that our struggles are yielding positive results.

“The Warri refinery, Osubi Airport reopening, Delta or Premium Steel Company and Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) Warri were our cardinal demands during the October 2020 #EndSARS protest in Warri, which include the rejection of police brutality, extortion, harassment and extra-judicial killings.

“At a town hall meeting with the Delta State governor in Warri and Asaba and a meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, in Asaba, we canvassed for these cardinal demands.

“While the government took it seriously to attend to these demands, we followed up with letters to the authorities.”

“We are glad that a whopping $586 million has been earmarked for the Warri Refinery rehabilitation, duly approved by the FEC yesterday (Wednesday), which of course will put us in the economic hub in the region after completion.

“We shall ensure a follow-up on the process and make sure we track the funds to be used for the purpose for which it was approved.

“We thank the government for the resumption of the airport. We are reminding the federal authorities that our letters to the Warri Seaport and Premium Steel companies are on their tables, so they can expedite actions as well.”.