Cross River NYCN Dissociates from Protest as Youths Demand Better Power Supply

Cross River NYCN Dissociates from Protest as Youths Demand Better Power Supply

 

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Cross River State chapter, has distanced itself from a recent protest against insufficient power supply in the state.

 

The protest, which took place on January 16, 2025, saw a group of youths under the banner “Young People from the 18 Local Government Areas of CRS” demonstrating at the headquarters of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) in Calabar.

 

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In a statement released by the NYCN’s Public Relations Officer, Comrade Melchizedek David, the council emphasized that it neither sanctioned nor participated in the protest.

 

The statement clarified that the NYCN-CRS was not involved in organizing the event and that those who staged the protest were unknown to the council.

 

Official Position

The NYCN described the protest as an unauthorized action that misrepresented the organization. The statement read in part:

“The council never authorized any of her members either at the state level or LGA chapter to lead or carry out any protest connected to the above subject matter. As the umbrella youth body in Nigeria and Cross River State, the council must at all times be duly informed before any attempt to mobilize young people within our jurisdiction to any engagement.”

While acknowledging the legitimate concerns over inadequate electricity supply, the NYCN reiterated its preference for dialogue over confrontation.

 “We do not argue with the fact that PHED and other relevant agencies may need to up their game in addressing the unending energy demands of the people, and this they must do with urgency and commitment. However, the leadership of the NYCN at this time believes in dialogue over protest as a means of settling disputes.”

The council urged stakeholders to engage constructively and warned against miscreants hijacking public movements under the guise of representing youth interests. It reiterated its commitment to peaceful advocacy, noting its ongoing statewide tours to promote dialogue and understanding between youths and relevant authorities.

 

 

The statement read below:

RE: PROTEST AT PHED HEAD QUARTERS, CALABAR

1. Good morning my dear youths and stakeholders of The National Youth Council of Nigeria ( NYCN).
2. Information reaching us that some youths under the auspices of the youths umbrella body the NYCN-CRS code named “Young people from the 18 Local Government Areas of CRS” gathered at the headquarters of PHED on a protest for insufficient power distribution in the state yesterday the 16th day of January, 2025.

3. The Information further states that the youths cut, across the 18 LGA and a picture painted erroneously in semblance of our Esteemed Organization.

4. We wish to state categorically the following positions as follows

a. The protest was carried out by unknown persons to NYCN-CRS Chapter.

b. The council never authorized any of her member either at the state level or LGA Chapter to lead or carry out any protest connected to the above subject matter.
That as UMBRELLA youth body in Nigeria and CRS, the Council MUST at all times be DUELY informed before any attempt to infiltrate, mobilize and lead young people within our jurisdiction to any engagement to avoid possible hijack by miscreants.

c. The council therefore distance herself from whatever act that was led by the group using the code name ” Young people across the 18 L.G.A”

C. We at the NYCN, DONOT argue with the fact that PHED and other relevant agencies may need to ups their game in attending to the unending energy demands of the people and this they MUST do with URGENCY and COMMITMENT.
The Leadership of the NYCN at this time, believe in “DIALOGUE OVER PROTEST” as a means of settling dispute, reason for our constant state wide tour, advancing the importance of Dialogue.

Sign: comrade Melchizedek David PRO NYCN CRS