In a fresh initiative to restore peace to the region, the federal government has returned to the negotiation table with ex-warlords from the Niger Delta.
Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, General Paul Boroh (rtd.) yesterday launched a three hour meeting with some notable warlords in the region with a view to ending the recent spate of bombing of critical oil and gas installations.
The violence has resulted in a sharp drop in oil production and revenue accruing to the nation. The meeting took place at the Amnesty Office in Abuja.
Although Boroh described the talks as routine in line with the operational template of the Amnesty Office, he said that issues slated for discussion were germane to the search for peace in the region as contributions from the ex-warlords would provide an insight into how best to move forward.
In attendance at the closed door session were the likes of Elder Timi Ogoriba, Danny Ekpebide, Richard Akinaka and Dennis Phillip. They are some of the ex-warlords who have worked closely with Amnesty Office since inception.
Boroh, briefing newsmen on the meeting, said: “I invited them for this important meeting as a normal routine to discuss current issues. I appreciate the role that is being played by every stakeholder. We want to discuss recent upsurge in the region with the emergence of new groups which are violent and whose activities affect the environment. I’m happy that we gather to discuss these issues.”
He said that he had held similar meetings with other stakeholders in the region, noting that they were instrumental to the relative peace being experienced in the last few weeks.
Boroh said his office would not accept any other agitator into the programme apart from the over 30, 000 on the list.
Plans, according to him, have reached an advanced stage to reintegrate 13, 600 ex-agitators after they would have undergone training in different aspects of agriculture, including oil and gas sector in line with the federal government’s thinking of a diversified economy.
“We are now in the process of reintegrating the ex-militants captured in our list into the society,” he said. “My mandate is to reintegrate the 30, 000 that I met and that is what I am doing. It is better to clear this aspect.
“Of course, there have been issues of delay in payment. This is due to the economic situation in the country. The programme is affected by the inadequate funds in the country.
“However, the programme is on course and it has helped in dousing the tension in the area, though about 13, 000 are yet to be adequately trained in the Amnesty programme.
“But our focus in on agriculture as an alternative to engaging ex-militants and we have visited Bio Resource Centres that could help in training these people.
“About 10, 000 that would be trained at the Bio Resource Centres on modern farming methods. Agriculture, I believe, is the best alternative because it would provide food security, wealth creation, jobs and enhancement of the economy.”
He added that the cost implication and modalities for the training have been duly discussed and beneficiaries would be enrolled in batches at the centres in due course.