Ultimatum to release $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account for the Niger Delta region to tackle developmental challenges has been given to the federal government.
Reformed Niger Delta Avengers, a coalition of nine militant groups issued the ultimatum in an open letter written to President Muhammad Buhari.
They based their demand on the recent approval of the release of $1 billion to fight insurgency in the North East. They threatened to resume hostilities on oil installation if the Federal Government fails to accede to their request.
Major General Johnmark Ezonbi, aka Obama, on behalf of the group said: “We demand our own share of the $1 billion from the Excess Crude Account for the development of the Niger Delta within four weeks.
“We will ensure that anything that stands on our way will be crushed without mercy. All foreign nationals are hereby advised to leave the region as all our unit commanders have put on red alert to resume operation zero oil production on the expiration of the four weeks ultimatum.
“The governors of the South -South will not be spared for being part of that decision to approve $1bn to combat insurgency, while our region suffers. The golden hen that lays the egg has nothing to show for what she gives.
“We want to warn the Federal Government not to take the current ceasefire, which the country is enjoying with the daily crude oil production of between 2.2 to 2.4million barrels of crude production amounting to billions of naira on daily basis for government and which has helped the country get out of recession for granted