President-General of the Ogoni Youth Federation and spokesman for the Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth Leaders Forum, Engr. Legborsi Yamaabana, has commended young people across the Niger Delta for their resilience and contributions to Nigeria’s economic recovery.
Yamaabana, in a statement issued in Abuja to mark International Youth Day 2026, said the commitment of youths in the oil-producing region to peace and stability had contributed to recent improvements in Nigeria’s oil production.
He said young people across the Niger Delta were increasingly working with government authorities and security agencies to combat economic sabotage and create an environment conducive to increased oil production.
“The recent gains in Nigeria’s oil output are a direct result of the commitment to peace demonstrated by our youth,” Yamaabana said.
He added that youths in the region remained determined to support efforts aimed at protecting critical national assets and strengthening the country’s revenue base.
On the situation in Ogoniland, Yamaabana appealed to Ogoni youths to remain calm as discussions continue over the proposed resumption of oil exploration and production activities in the area.
He also announced plans to convene an Ogoni Youth Congress in the coming days to deliberate on issues affecting young people in Ogoniland and chart a common position on developments in the region.
Yamaabana commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as the administration’s commitment to restarting oil and gas operations in Ogoniland after more than three decades.
He said the successful resolution of issues surrounding the long-shut OML 11 would represent a significant milestone for the administration and the people of Ogoniland.
The youth leader pledged the support of Ogoni youths for the resumption of exploration activities, while stressing the need for meaningful and direct engagement with relevant stakeholders.
He said such engagement was essential to ensuring that the interests of the Ogoni people, particularly youths and host communities, were adequately addressed as plans for the resumption of oil operations progress.
Yamaabana further called for greater inclusion of young people in decision-making processes, saying their participation was critical to achieving sustainable peace, development and economic growth in the Niger Delta.
