The official in Charge of the execution the Niger Delta Amnesty programme has identified pausity of funds as a major constraint in the smooth accomplishment of the programme.
Brigadier General Paul Boroh (rtd) who is the Special Adviser to the Nigerian President on Niger Delta matters said the delay in Amnesty payment is occasioned by the recent economic downturn in the country.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme is a scheme which rehabilitates repentant militants in the Niger Delta region.
Following the amnesty, many former leaders enriched themselves through lucrative pipeline protection contracts under previous president Goodluck Jonathan but oil theft reached an industrial scale.
Paul Boroh was addressing journalists prior to a closed door Stakeholders meeting with a delegation from the Niger Delta region in Abuja on Friday.
“There have been issues along the line that have to do with delay in payment. It is again due to the obvious economic situation in the country. The Amnesty Programme is not different from the entire structure of Nigeria.
“So the delayal of stipends is also created by the inadequate economic situation in the country. The programme is on course and it has helped in dousing the security situation in Niger Delta.”
Concerning the 13,639 ex-agitators who are yet to be adequately trained and re-integrated back into the society, he said: “the focus for now is in line with the Government’s alternative to oil which is Agriculture.
“The Amnesty Programme is focusing on Agriculture as an alternative to engaging the ex-agitators. In that wise, we have visited the several offices across the country with the aim of capturing about 10, 000 ex-agitators that will be trained not in just Agric but in modern scientific method of Agriculture. The focus in Agriculture does not mean that other sectors of the economy are jettisoned”
He stated that two groups at the instance of the Federal Government are in talks as interface between the FG and the aggrieved persons to effectively resolve the resource based conflicts in the region, while also suggesting that state governors should run an all-inclusive government which allows even the militants in the state to make productive contributions.
“Involve these boys (militants) in your day-to-day activities, give them tasks for they are members of the state. Ensure that they are part of the development of the state by giving them responsibility. That is the best. It behoves the governors to use the militants for the growth and development of the state.”
The restive southern swampland region has been rocked by violence against oil and gas pipelines since the start of the year, reducing the OPEC member’s output by 700,000 barrels a day to 1.56 million bpd.
The Niger Delta Avengers have claimed several major attacks but have been apparently less active in recent weeks, which has led to speculation about a ceasefire as the government has been trying for two months to reach out to the militants.
The group said it would support a dialogue “to engage with the federal government of Nigeria, representatives from the home countries of all multinational Oil Corporations and neutral international mediators.”
It only said it wanted talks to focus on de-escalating the Niger Delta conflict. The group previously said it was fighting for oil revenues to drag the region out of poverty, floating even the idea of secession, a goal out of question for the government.
Like other militant groups, the Avengers has apparently split, making it difficult for the government to identify the right people to talk to.