Rivers State Governor Rotimi Ameachi has said operatives of the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in some areas of the state will leave by February next year.
He said the withdrawal of the JTF would provide a conducive atmosphere for the permanent integration of restive militants in the state.
Amaechi dropped the hint yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 2009 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council, held at the Iwe Irohin secretariat auditorium, Abeokuta.
The governor, who was represented at the occasion by the Chairman of the Rivers State Television, Mr. Tonye Ekong, stated that the soldiers’ withdrawal by February 2010, would pave way for a successful re-integration programme by the state government.
The governor, who was expected to deliver a lecture on “Amnesty for Niger Delta Militants – Towards Equity, Justice and Fairness in the Nigerian Nation” noted that the issue had been over flogged, “hence, he has directed me to tell you that by February 2010 the soldiers in Rivers State will have to leave”.
“The security situation, the governor had asked me to inform you, has improved. He asked me to tell you that you can use this yuletide period to come over to Rivers State. The situation is very much peaceful now and by February 2010 the soldiers are to leave the state. We can solve the problem ourselves,” Ekong reiterated.
The governor’s representative also said plans had been concluded to set up a vocational training institute to cater for restive youths who had been successfully disarmed.
According to him, “A foremost Nigerian that you all know very well, Chief Albert Horsfall, is to be in charge of the centre. We are at the verge of going back to reform and re-integrate into the society these youths.
“After the training in various vocational trades, soft loans will be made available for the trainees’ which in a long way will solve the unemployment situation, which has been the major problem hovering around this issue of militancy in the region.”
The governor, he added, would continue to support any government policy that would assist in wiping out any form of agitation, “as the governor strongly believes in equity and fairness of the Nigerian nation”.
The Federal Government had deployed the JTF in the Niger Delta following youth restiveness in the region which had culminated in the attack and destruction of many oil pipelines and subsequent shut in of oil by multinational companies.
The shut in had affected the revenue accruing to the Federal Government.
President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had on June 26, 2009, declared a 60-day amnesty for militants of the Niger Delta. The president’s action had compelled the JTF to stop its attack on the militants’ hideouts in the creeks, but had remained in the region for security reasons
Dec82009