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| Last Updated: Jan 19th, 2012 - 11:25:19 |
Analysis/Commentary
Fed Govt, stakeholders count gains of amnesty
Oct 7, 2009, 18:09
| | Forty eight hours after the deadline for Niger Delta militants to accept Federal Government’s amnesty offer expired, senior government officials and the Nigerian public are already counting the positive results from the exercise.
Economic Adviser to the President, Dr Tanimu Yakubu, said on Wednesday, October 7, that the success of the programme would accelerate economic development across the nation.
The Economic Adviser observed that with the cessation of hostilities in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria can once again fill its OPEC quota and be trusted by major consumer nations to meet its contractual obligations.
Currently, contractors handling projects in the region are now fast-tracking the repair of oil and gas infrastructures damaged by violence.
Dr Taniumu is confident that this development would gladden the hearts of OPEC members that Nigeria and Saudi Arabia can be relied upon when necessary for the supply of crude to stabilize international prices.
He also said this will give Nigeria a lot of advantage to exercise more influence in the supply and pricing of oil.
The Federal Government’s offer of amnesty to armed militants in the Niger Delta region, which lapsed at midnight on Sunday, October 4, has continued to attract praises from stakeholders. The National Economic Council and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum have congratulated President Yar’Adua on the successful completion of the amnesty programme.
President Yar’Adua had in a statement on July 15 2009 given them 90 days to accept the offer and lay down their arms, following which they would receive an amnesty from prosecution and would go through a program of rehabilitation and resettlement into peaceful lives.
The President said then that “the offer of amnesty is predicated on the willingness and readiness of the militants to give up all illegal arms in their possession, completely renounce militancy in all its ramifications unconditionally, and depose to an undertaking to this effect”. He urged the militants to embrace the amnesty and “come out to join in the quest for the transformation of our dear nation”.
A Presidential Panel on Amnesty and Disarmament of Militants in the Niger Delta had been set up on the 5th of May, 2009 to coordinate the amnesty programme and advise Government.
Before the amnesty period lapsed on October 4, nearly all the major militant leaders and their supporters had laid down their arms and signed up for rehabilitation. In the spirit of the amnesty, Government had discontinued the trial of militant leader Henry Okah, who was arrested in Angola and repatriated home to face charges of gun-running, and set him free. One by one, all the major figures of the militancy emerged from the creeks to exchange their guns for proper rehabilitation.
On Government’s plans for the repentant militants who met the deadline, Media Coordinator of the Amnesty Implementation Committee, Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agary said the ex-militants who surrendered will now be taken to rehabilitation centers and go through a rehabilitation program. This is necessary, she said, for anyone who has experienced violence over the years and probably engaged in drug and substance abuse.
She also said a very robust rehabilitation program will be put in place by the Amnesty Implementation Committee, the details of which will be worked out in close consultation with the ex-militants’ leaders.
According to her, forms will be distributed to the ex-militants at the camps to determine the career path they wish to take, whether to further their education or to go into business.
According to her, state governors in the Niger Delta region are working closely with the committee in the rehabilitation program.
© Copyright 2012 nigeriafirst.org
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