Sopuruchi Onwuka — Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), is threatening to call off ceasefire with the government if foreign oil companies do not leave the area.

The threat comes just after industry operators and government floated a committee to start off a new relationship with the host commuities and build positive capacity in the youths to guarantee congenial operating environment.

Leader of the group, Mr. Henry Okah, told agency sources that the government has not stuck to its part of the amnesty deal which saw him off the hook for threason and gunning charges.

Mr. Henry Okah who was ducked and standing trial before the amnesty offer caught up with his case threatened that "there will be a resumption of violence very soon."

Many of the armed groups argue that they are fighting for a greater share of oil revenue to remain in the Niger delta and complain of the pollution caused by the industry.

Attacks on pipelines and industry facilities - along with the kidnapping of oil workers - since early 2006 have cost the world's eighth-biggest oil exporter billions of dollars a year in lost revenues and added to volatility in global energy prices.

Minister of Information, Professor Dora Akunyili, told agency sourcces that "We need to establish peace in that region. It is only when peace is established that meaningful dialogue can follow and sustainable development would naturally be in place."

Meanwhile the fragile peace in Niger Delta came as Nigeria started seeing its production creep slowly but surely up since the government enacted its amnesty program.

Defense Minister, Godwin Abbe, said oil production has gone from 1.3 million bpd prior to the amnesty program to 1.8 million bpd.

"Already, the amnesty is yielding fruits as can be seen in the rise of Nigeria's crude oil from 1.3 million bpd to 1.8 million barrels."

Interestingly, prior to Abbe's statement of 1.3 million bpd, the lowest production figures floating on the wires were 1.5 - 1.6 million bpd.

Abbe told journalists in Lagos that the 15,000 militants had been sent into two camps for rehabilitation purposes. "They have been divided into batches and they will be in camps located in Delta and Rivers States. They will undergo training in skills acquisition that will make them useful to themselves," he said.

Since the government announced the amnesty program many militants across the Niger Delta have laid down their arms, all but the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND, although some MEND commanders have accepted the government's deal.

While all of MEND has not laid down its arms it did recently declare an indefinite ceasefire to pave the way for developmental programs.