The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, resolved to investigate the management and implementation of the amnesty programme offered the Niger Delta militants.
The resolution was reached after debates on the recent attacks carried out by members of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) who have also threatened to cripple oil production through more attacks on installations and on South African interests in Nigeria.
Worried by the development, the lawmakers, during Wednesday’s plenary session, mandated the Joint Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, and Public Safety and National Security to investigate the performance of all agencies connected with the management of the amnesty programme.
The House also asked the committee to summon relevant stakeholders with a view to fashioning out a comprehensive and integrated solution to the Niger Delta problem and report back in two weeks.
Also, the House is set to probe the series of attacks carried out by members of MEND in the Niger Delta region.
Arowosoge Abiose, a representative, expressed concerns over the resumption of bomb attacks on pipeline installations by MEND after over a year of militia onslaught, and warned that there would be several bomb attacks aimed at shutting down oil production in the country.
“MEND has concluded plans to attack South African companies having investments in Nigeria,” Abiose said.
He added that the government had taken steps to address the problems in the region by the establishment of the NDDC, Niger Delta ministry and the granting of amnesty to militants from the region, and therefore the recent attacks were uncalled for.
He said if threats by the militant group to attack South African interests in Nigeria were carried out, diplomatic relations between the two nations would be seriously affected.
In a resolution on another motion, the House mandated the committees on Appropriation and Aviation to ensure the inclusion of funds for the upgrading of the Ibadan Airport in the 2012 budget, while urging the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to step up security at the airport.
Abiodun Awoleye, sponsor of the motion, explained that the airport, established in June 1983 was not included in the list of five airports recently approved for upgrading.
The House also adopted a motion urging the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to urgently set up mobile emergency response units at strategic points in the FCT.
Yakubu Balogun, who sponsored the motion, said most deaths occurred as a result of lack of immediate or prompt medical attention for accident victims.