Arewa, Ijaw, Ohanaeze and Ibibio youths have asked the federal government to set mechanisms in motion towards restructuring the country.
According to them, this should be done in line with true and fiscal federalism and devolution of powers in order to accommodate interest groups, regions and geopolitical zones.
The youth leaders made the call at the end of a meeting of Nigeria ethnic nationalities youth groups, held in Abuja.
In a communique signed by the various ethnic youth leaders and issued to journalists at the end of the meeting, the youths also called on all secessionist groups to give peace a chance for the interest, unity and progress of the country.
The text read by the President of Ibibio Youth Council, Imoh Stephen Okoko, read in part: “There is no gain emphasizing the obvious that the challenges confronting the Nigerian state are enormous, which, if not timely identified and addressed, may truncate the peaceful coexistence of the units and colonies that amalgamated to become Nigeria.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, reinforce the executive order issued to international oil companies to relocate their offices to their operational base.
“We want to inform the Federal Government that we will employ all our energies to resist strangers from operating modular refineries in our territories.
“We also want the Federal and State Governments to urgently address killings and clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
“The Federal Government should open up all existing sea ports across the country in order to boost economy of the nation, create employment for our teaming youths and enhance development of our dear country.”
