The group ''Avengers of the Niger Delta'' threatened today to blow up oil and gas facilities in the south of the country if the government does not stipulate an adequate budget for the Federal University of Petroleum Resources.
We are giving the government of Nigeria 14 days to make an adequate budget provision for the University, indicated a statement signed by Generals Orubu Ekpe and Mike Agbalele, responsible for the group's Operations and Defense, respectively.
They claimed that the Urhobo Nation, which is the fifth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria with oil and gas-rich facilities, has been marginalized under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
They alleged, 'Buhari refused to grant the Urhobo nation a ministerial appointment and no viable position in the oil and gas related agencies.'
The note adds that a budget provision for the financial implementation of the University was deliberately left aside in the 2018 Budget sent to the National Assembly, contrary to what was signed on October 17, 2017.
We will be ready to return to the country to zero oil and gas production and force it into another recession if adequate provisions are not made within this 14 day-period of our ultimatum, the statement summarizes.
Likewise, the militants urged all the militant groups with genuine intentions for the development of the Niger Delta region to join forces with them.