Apparently worried by threats issued by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) to pull out of negotiations with the Federal Government, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo Thursday night engaged stakeholders from the region in a crucial meeting. He told them that the Federal Government has met their expectations.
The meeting commenced about 6:45pm after Osinbajo returned from Lagos where he had gone earlier for an official assignment.
Independent correspondent at the Presidential Villa spotted National Leader/Convener of PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark; paramount Rivers Chief, Alfred Diete Spiff; former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Timi Alaibe; former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Don Etiebet; former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, among others.
The meeting was convened at the instance of the acting president, when he got wind that the Niger Delta leaders had become aggrieved again over alleged recalcitrance of government to implement recommendations outlined in a 16-point document earlier submitted to the presidency.
PANDEF had given the Federal Government November 1 deadline to implement the recommendations else they might not be able to guarantee peace in the region.
Clark had categorically urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, implement the pronouncements made by the presidency, following Osinbajo’s fact-finding visits to the Niger Delta region.
He had advised government to set up, without delay, the Federal Government Dialogue Team to engage PANDEF, towards resolving the pending issues contained in the forum’s 16-point demands on behalf of the people of the Niger Delta region, by, or before, November 1, 2017, anniversary of their meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We submitted a 16-point demand to Mr. President on November 1, 2016, and we had expected that by its next anniversary, the 16-point agenda would have been comprehensively sorted out.
“If, at the expiration of the November 1, 2017 ultimatum, the Federal Government fails and/or refuses to accede to these lawful and legitimate demands of the Niger Delta people, PANDEF may consider pulling out of the ongoing peace process in the Niger Delta.”
PANDEF regretted that government has not reciprocated its laudable gesture to stabilise oil production and help the country out of recession.
But Osinbajo in a diplomatic manner presented a fact sheet detailing some programmes being undertaken by government to actually address their constraints.
The acting president had told the leaders that government was in the process of replacing illegal refineries in the region with modular ones, including options on how to involve the communities as shareholders in the proposed modular refineries.
He also revealed to them that a ground-breaking ceremony for the first set of such refineries was expected in the 4th quarter of the year.
In a well-articulated manner, Osinbajo told the delegation that government was ready to supply crude to the local refineries at reasonably considered price, as an incentive to stop the current practice whereby illegal refiners vandalise and steal the crude.
He said each state in the Niger Delta was expected to host two modular refineries each.
“The Federal Government has commenced the process for the opening of the Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State. Already, a five-man inter-agency committee headed by the minister of education is in the final stages for the official opening of the university in the 2017/2018 academic session.
“The Federal Government has released additional N35 billion to step up the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta region, which is a specific and significant raise to the 2016 budgetary allocation to the office. This significant increase is already reflected in the 2017 budget with N70 billion allocation.
“The amnesty office has since paid up all ex-militants backlog of their stipends up to April 2017. School fees for ex-militants studying abroad have been paid up to 80% this July. School fees in Nigeria paid up to 90% this July.
“Under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Presidential Amnesty Programme has deployed 1294 beneficiaries in different programmes in different universities across the world. 1230 have graduated; 196 are maritime engineers, 59 pilots, and 120 automobile engineers. It has established a partnership with the PRESCOM (Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons), UNDP, EU and UNREC to curb the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the hands of unauthorized persons and groups.
“To enhance a speedy development and restore peace in the Niger Delta region, the Federal Government has revamped the Niger Delta Development Commission to drive the creation of development and infrastructure projects in the region.
“An initial fund of 1 billion USD has been set aside for the clean-up and environmental remediation of Ogoniland. A sum of USD 200 million will be disbursed yearly for the first five years and work on the project will be conducted in line with international best practices. Already soil and water tests have been done in preparation for the clean-up and 15 technical assistants hired to be part of the work from Ogoniland.
“To drive infrastructure, the Federal Government has released funds for the continuation of various sections of the East-West Road. As at March 2017, the overall project completion is substantial ( Section I – 99.98%, Section II – I – 78.33%, Section II -II – 67.95%, Section III – 99.22%, Section IV – 97.7%) with Sections I and III completed and due for commissioning. The Federal Government plans to construct health centres in the states and communities of the region. On completion, they will be fully equipped to address some of the health needs of rural dwellers.
“This project will place the region as one of the most advanced places in Africa for high speed internet access and reliable communication systems.
“To further encourage infrastructure development, the Federal Government, through the Petroleum Ministry is also exploring with the international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region on how to relocate their operational headquarters to their states of operations as different from administrative headquarters which often has only about 5% of the staff,” the acting president noted in his presentation to the region’s leaders.
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