​The United Niger Delta Congress (UNDC) announced at the weekend that youths across the Niger Delta region are disciplined, fully prepared, and equipped to assume key national responsibilities within critical sectors of the Nigerian economy.
​The advocacy group made the declaration during a press conference held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel press center in Abuja. Addressing newsmen, Mallam Julius Obi, National President and key spokesperson for the UNDC, emphasized that youth status should be seen as an asset rather than a barrier to strategic governance and industrial roles.
​”We are calling on the Federal Government to note that Nigeria is full of young men and women who are prepared, disciplined, and ready to carry out national responsibilities,” Obi stated. “Being a youth should not be a disqualification from strategic national assignments, but when matched with preparation and character, it becomes a crucial national asset.”
​Addressing energy security, a cornerstone of the national economy, the UNDC pointed out that youths in host communities have already demonstrated their reliability by safeguarding critical oil and gas pipelines, resulting in stabilized crude production.
​Highlighting performance figures in the petroleum sector, the spokesperson noted that local domain expertise and community engagement have yielded measurable results. Over 2,000 illegal pipeline connections have been remediated and more than 1,000 illegal refinery clusters dismantled across host communities.
Thousands of local youths have been integrated into direct surveillance and protection roles, diverting potential unrest into productive employment.
The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser, and NNPC Limited to extend key pipeline surveillance contracts, such as those managed by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), to sustain current output gains and economic stability.
​The UNDC concluded the press briefing by calling on the Federal Government to continue opening doors of strategic service to youth groups who have earned trust through consistent delivery, discipline, and community development.
