Oscarline Onwuemenyi, with agency reports 07 June 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – The Liaison Officer, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Niger Delta Liaison…
Browsing: Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd)
“Our advice however is that government should not politicize it, they should identify those who are already in the business and leverage on their expertise as well as enhance their capacities. Those with some kind of experience will be easier to train for the pilot scheme and we shall be more than willing to work with government to showcase our skills, before now they had branded us illegal.”
He said, “If the amount of empathy, concern and commitment to the people in the Niger Delta and their plight shown by the Buhari administration had been shown by past governments, there would have been no reason for agitations in the region. All that the people require and are asking for is basic development and understanding which is what the Buhari administration is offering.”
“Illegal refining activities currently taking place in the creeks and environs are alarming. These have led to pipeline vandalism, river and land pollution, environmental degradation, oil theft and loss of revenue to the Federal Government. The poorly refined products when sold and distributed will result in economic and health disasters such as vehicle breakdown and kerosene explosions, among others.”
He said, “It is important we continue to sustain the institutional engagement and negotiations which are key to the development of the region. Our target is zero militancy by the middle of 2017, and an incident reduction in the region by 90 per cent by 2018. We must resolve current militancy problems and bring back oil production to 2.2 million barrels per day.”
“Before now, there were a lot of doubts whether the Federal Government actually had the political will resolve the issues or whether they were only talking for the sake of talking. It has become abundantly clear that the Federal Government is committed to the resolution to the conflict and stability and development of the Niger Delta region.”
The NDGJM claimed that they had been following the events in the region, monitoring developments and designing possible line of action in the New Year.
According to him, the federal government is aware of the pains the ex-militants are going through and will ensure that they get their stipends soon.
