FG committed To Re-integration, Empowerment of Ex-militants In Niger Delta – Boro
FeaturedNigeria July 16, 2016 Dianabasi Effiong
Muhammadu Buhari
Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment in the re-integration and empowerment of ex-militants in the Niger Delta region
Brig. Gen. Paul Boro (Rtd), Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, stated this on Wednesday at the graduation ceremony of 72 ex-militants in Calabar.
The ex-militants were trained in fisheries and aquaculture in the Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar.
Boro said that President Buhari attached so much importance and care for the repentant ex-militants who have decided to surrender their arms and embrace peace for the progress of the country.
He said that he would immediately begin the process of empowering the graduands with cash and other inputs that would help set up their fish farms.
“I am very that you have surrendered your arms to embrace peace and to also accept to be trained in fish farming. This shows that together we can move the Niger Delta region forward. I wish to appeal to all of you here to convince other of your colleagues in the creeks to lay down their arms and embrace peace. Bombing of pipelines is not the best way to attract government attention towards the plight of the people. They are other advisable ways to do so.
“No strategic thinker ever uses his territory as a battle field. Our resources must be protected; and I appeal to our brothers in the Niger Delta to drop down their arms and dialogue for peace to reign. 13,031 ex-militants have so far graduated from the amnesty programmes. 1,246 are still undergoing professional training while 159 are having their advanced training in maritime export among others,” he said.
Rep. Essien Ayi, representing Calabar South/Bakassi/Akpabuyo federal constituency, said that the bill to give the amnesty programme a legal backing have scaled through second reading in the House of Representatives.
Ayi, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, said that a public hearing on the proposed bill will soon be heard.
“This bill if passed into law, will fully re-integrate and rehabilitate ex-militants who drop down their arms to embrace peace in the Niger Delta. I urge all of you here to also convince your brothers and friends in the creeks to also embrace peace and drop down their arms. We are coming out with an act to better the lives of Niger Delta youths,” he said.
Dr Paul Udoh, Director of the Institute, said that the graduands underwent six months intensive training in fish farming and aquaculture.
Udoh, advised them to make judicious use of the training they have acquired, adding that the graduands were also free to visit the institute at any time for clarification and further directives on fish farming.
Responding on behalf of the graduands, Mr Surubor Amadi, thanked the federal government for the training programme which he said had impacted self-employed skills on them.
Amadi appealed to the federal government to urgently empower them with money in other to help them start up their fish farming business.
He however, called on other militants in the creeks to lay down their arms and embrace peace for the economic growth of the country.
Brig. Gen. Paul Boro (Rtd), Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, stated this on Wednesday at the graduation ceremony of 72 ex-militants in Calabar.
The ex-militants were trained in fisheries and aquaculture in the Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar.
Boro said that President Buhari attached so much importance and care for the repentant ex-militants who have decided to surrender their arms and embrace peace for the progress of the country.
He said that he would immediately begin the process of empowering the graduands with cash and other inputs that would help set up their fish farms.
“I am very that you have surrendered your arms to embrace peace and to also accept to be trained in fish farming. This shows that together we can move the Niger Delta region forward. I wish to appeal to all of you here to convince other of your colleagues in the creeks to lay down their arms and embrace peace. Bombing of pipelines is not the best way to attract government attention towards the plight of the people. They are other advisable ways to do so.
“No strategic thinker ever uses his territory as a battle field. Our resources must be protected; and I appeal to our brothers in the Niger Delta to drop down their arms and dialogue for peace to reign. 13,031 ex-militants have so far graduated from the amnesty programmes. 1,246 are still undergoing professional training while 159 are having their advanced training in maritime export among others,” he said.
Rep. Essien Ayi, representing Calabar South/Bakassi/Akpabuyo federal constituency, said that the bill to give the amnesty programme a legal backing have scaled through second reading in the House of Representatives.
Ayi, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, said that a public hearing on the proposed bill will soon be heard.
“This bill if passed into law, will fully re-integrate and rehabilitate ex-militants who drop down their arms to embrace peace in the Niger Delta. I urge all of you here to also convince your brothers and friends in the creeks to also embrace peace and drop down their arms. We are coming out with an act to better the lives of Niger Delta youths,” he said.
Dr Paul Udoh, Director of the Institute, said that the graduands underwent six months intensive training in fish farming and aquaculture.
Udoh, advised them to make judicious use of the training they have acquired, adding that the graduands were also free to visit the institute at any time for clarification and further directives on fish farming.
Responding on behalf of the graduands, Mr Surubor Amadi, thanked the federal government for the training programme which he said had impacted self-employed skills on them.
Amadi appealed to the federal government to urgently empower them with money in other to help them start up their fish farming business.
He however, called on other militants in the creeks to lay down their arms and embrace peace for the economic growth of the country.
Dianabasi Effiong
