26 October 2009
The federal government yesterday said it will continue to receive repentant militants who return their arms even though the October 4, deadline set for them has expired.
Minister of Defence and chairman of the Presidential Committee on Amnesty, Maj.-Gen. Godwin Abbe (rtd) stated this in Lagos at an interactive session with newsmen.
However, he said government would not negotiate with the Aaron Team named recently by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) to dialogue on the group's behalf.
The Aaron Team is made up of Vice Admiral Okhai Mike Akhigbe (rtd), Maj.-Gen. Luke Kakadu Aprezi (rtd), Prof. Sabella Ogbobode Abidde, Prof. Wole Soyinka and Madam Annkio Briggs.
It would be recalled that government had insisted that the October 4, deadline for militants to surrender their arms was sacrosanct.
Speaking on the issue yesterday, Abbe said President Umaru Yar'Adua as father of all would receive repentant militants as "prodigal sons."
He said some of the militants who were yet to surrender their arms may not have been properly informed of the government's amnesty in the Niger Delta because of their location and difficult terrain.
He said some of them may have been apprehensive on what fate awaited them after surrendering their arms adding that government's latest gesture would enable them turn in their weapons.
Abbe said the challenge of the post amnesty "is to ensure that they are fully resettled to prevent them from returning to the creeks.
"This aspect of the amnesty involves re-orientation, rehabilitation and capacity building training and skills acquisition. The process we are adopting is original to Nigeria.
"Although our projection based on initial assessment estimated the figure of all true militants as 17,500, the number we have now is 15,260."
Abbe said the region that has over the years, experienced growing unrest has witnessed relative peace with government's genuine concern for the development of the area, noting that the post amnesty stage was a critical phase that required proper rehabilitation and reintegration as well as infrastructural and economic development of the region.
"The amnesty which expired on 4th October has been generally acclaimed as a huge success. The amnesty has ushered in the cessation of arms conflict and wanton destruction of lives and properties and other forms of criminality in the region.
"With the large number of assorted arms surrendered, a steady return to social cohesion and decency in the region is assured. Besides, there is the economic angle to this. Nigeria's oil output has increased from about 1.3 million barrels per day in July to about 1.84 million.
"With the expiration of the period the amnesty programme has entered a critical stage of implementation. This is the rehabilitation and reintegration phase which focuses on the ex-militants who have unconditionally embraced amnesty, renounced militancy and surrendered their arms.
"There are two rehabilitation centers in Aluu, Rivers State and Agbarho, Delta State that are fully ready to be occupied. Both rehabilitation centers have capacity for 3,000. In the face of accommodation problem, it is intended that the ex-militants will be rehabilitated in batches that will last for a period of about 4 weeks for each batch.
"In terms of infrastructural and economic development of the region, the FG has decided on a bold strategy of embarking immediately on major projects that go beyond the budgetary capacity of State and local governments. In order to accelerate implementation of the development master plan the FG is determined to fast track execution of all identified projects.
"Some of these projects include construction of East -West Highway (On going), construction of the Atlantic Coastal Highway, construction of the East-West rail running through Calabar-Uyo-Port Harcourt-Yenagoa-Warri-Benin-Lagos(the first phase will start from Calabar to Benin), development of Inland waterways, clean-up of the environment of oil spillages that have blighted the ecosystem".
He said the oil companies would be challenged anew to review their policies and operational techniques to meet global best practices in the oil and gas industry.
On the recent report by the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS) a coalition of all ethnic nationalities and civil society in Niger Delta region, that MEND's Aaron team has finally accepted to meet with President Yar'Adua, Abbe said government would not meet with the team.
"Nobody can negotiate for the people unless those in the creeks that have suffered from the biting of mosquitoes there. Who are the Aaron's Team? If MEND exists they must stop their activities as they are acting against the interest of the state," Abbe said.
He reiterated that the "goal of the amnesty was to achieve peace, reconciliation, re-integration, healing and sustainable development and to achieve this, all the major actors that is the ex-militants, the communities, community based organisations, the three tiers of government and the oil majors have to be carried along."
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