Besides the monthly payment of between N65, 000 and N66,000 to the former militants, the funds would also finance reintegration activities, including payment of tuition fees for Niger Delta students who are in post-secondary institutions at home and abroad, payment of in-training and hazard allowances and vocational training costs.
The Group is charged with the responsibility of working with State Governments, development partners, oil companies and other stakeholders which include PANDEF, to come up with a concerted plan, with timelines and personally responsible agencies or ministries to spearhead the development of the long neglected region.
Osinbajo specifically directed that the list of all contractors who did not comply with the directive within the stipulated period be compiled and submitted to the Ministry of Justice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation and prosecution.
“PANDEF is confident that the vice president’s visit has afforded him the opportunity to interact for peace and fruitful engagement with the long-neglected and marginalised people of the Niger Delta,” it added.
He said, “In another 20 to 30 years, our oil won’t be as precious as it is today and that is reality? America has stopped buying oil from us. All the countries of Asia that buy oil from us are building alternative means of power, China and Japan are developing electric cars. In fact, Japan has more charging stations than petrol stations. Solar power is getting cheaper.”
“PANDEF wishes to appeal to all agitators and stakeholders in the region to exercise restraint and remain calm to sustain the relative peace enjoyed in the region as it will enable PANDEF deepen its engagement process with the Federal Government.”
The group claimed its findings showed that N80 billion which was supposed to be used in developing the Niger Delta was used to prosecute the election of a former South-South governor, while N40 billion was also withdrawn from the NDDC coffers to prosecute the last re-run election in Rivers State.
Chief Edwin Clark had expressed the frustration of the region, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately set up a committee to dialogue with PANDEF. He noted that since the group met the president in November 2016, nothing had happened.
The sources stated that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Kachikwu and possibly President Muhammadu Buhari would take part in the session, one of the sources said.
