PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has committed to keeping the Niger Delta amnesty programme in place as part of a comprehensive plan to ensure there is lasting peace and stability in the region.
Introduced by late President Umaru Yar'Adua in 2008, the amnesty programme involved the training of former Niger Delta militants and paying them allowance in exchange for them laying down their arms. President Goodluck Jonathan continued the programme upon assuming office and there have been fears that President Buhari might scrap it.
However, keen to ensure that militancy does not return to the area, disrupting Nigeria's oil supply, President Buhari has pledged to keep the programme going. Ohi Alegbe, the group general manager of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said President Buhari, was committed to playing more effective roles in the affairs of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) as well as sanitising Nigeria's oil industry.
At the ongoing 167th Opec seminar in Vienna, Austria, Dr Jamila Shu’ara, the permanent secretary in the ministry of petroleum resources delivered a message from President Buhari outlining his commitment to the body. She said the president was also committed to ensuring stability in other parts of Nigeria, thus making the operational environment safe and attractive once again.
Dr Shu’ara said: “Nigeria is committed to tackling corruption, especially in the extractive industry. The country will strive to bring back transparency and accountability in public life, especially in the petroleum industry which is the mainstay of national economy.”
She said Nigeria was committed to playing a more effective role in the affairs of the Opec under President Buhari and would continue to work for the realisation of the aims and objectives of the organisation. President Buhari was a one-time petroleum minister and the head of Nigeria’s delegation to Opec meetings.
On the Petroleum Industry Bill, Dr Shu’ara noted that the Buhari administration would take a critical look at it with a view to effecting necessary changes that would facilitate its early passage. She added that the government would strive to diversify the economy and put in place essential infrastructure that would aid its growth.
Dr Joseph Dawha, the NNPC group managing director, said: “New technology and climate change would most likely once again dramatically change the landscape of future oil supply by rapidly increasing supply sources and applying significantly downward pressure on oil prices. Additionally, with traditional oil importing nations becoming more self-sufficient, the struggle for available markets is likely to become even fiercer.”
He called on the global oil industry to always seek to strike a delicate balance between adaptation of technology to increase production and the need to protect the environment. According to Dr Dawha, environmental protection and sustainable development continue to be of great importance, so Opec member should also aim to adopt environmental policies that guarantee sustainable production as we seek to secure future diminishing oil markets.
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