Niger Delta militants urge Buhari to extend amnesty programme beyond December

FORMER Niger Delta militant leaders have expressed concern about President Muhammadu Buhari's setting of a December deadline for the winding up of the amnesty programme pointing out that it is too soon and unrealistic.

 

Upon assuming office on May 29, President Buhari pledged to maintain the amnesty programme first launched by President Umaru Yar'Adua in 2008. It involves training the militants, paying them a monthly wage and re-integrating them into society in exchange for them laying down their arms.

 

In August, President Buhari named retired Brigadier Paul Boroh as the new coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. However, the new government has set a December 2015 deadline for the end of the scheme and militants have expressed fears that it will not give them enough time to address all the issues they need to.

 

Prominent ex-militant leaders from the nine states of the Niger Delta region under the aegis of Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative, said that although the performance of Brigadier Boroh is so far commendable, the timeline proposed is not feasible due to lingering issues of non-payment of outstanding allowances and unfulfilled promises by the federal government. Reuben Wilson, the group's president known in the creeks as General Pastor, said before the federal government can decide on a termination date for the amnesty programme, it should consider the immediate release of the required funds for the payment of outstanding tuition fees of amnesty students in institutions of higher learning and training centres both at home and abroad.

 

Mr Wilson said: “The federal government should release the allocations to the Presidential Amnesty Office in order to pay the beneficiaries their monthly stipends on time. The presidential amnesty programme should be extended beyond December 2015 as earlier envisaged as its expiry date.

 

“The incentives promised the ex-generals and leaders of the various militant camps by the late President Yar’Adua in form of lifelines, security, accommodation and mobility should be fulfilled with immediate effect. Also, the federal government should pay, with immediate effect, the three months outstanding payments for the pipeline surveillance contracts awarded to the ex-agitators by the immediate past administration."

 

He added that the federal government should also reconsider its termination of the pipeline surveillance contract and re-award same to the ex-agitators for proper and effective security. In addition, Mr Wilson said the federal government should expand the presidential amnesty programme to include the Niger Delta youths in the creeks that are presently not included in it.