Group Advises President Buhari To Retain Niger Delta Amnesty Programme

The Niger Delta Economic Advancement Group has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to rethink the decision of the Federal Government to wind up the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the Niger Delta.

In a statement issued in Uyo, the group posited that sustaining the Amnesty Programme in the face of the recent resurgence of Militant activities in the Niger Delta region, has become imperative, as the recent actions of the militant groups resurfacing in the region, poses a great danger to the economic prospects of the Country.

Chairman of the group, Dr. Amos Ekanem says “The Amnesty program is hailing. Waking up to read of another attack on pipeline in the Niger Delta breaks the heart and makes sight gloomy. Perhaps one would have thought that those days of pipeline vandalism were over but with present realities, it is obvious that if the needful is not done, we might be in for a long thing in the country.

At this critical time of bad economy and depleted reserve of national fund, government cannot afford this incessant attack on our source of economic sustenance. The question then becomes what does the government have to do?”

The group asked the Federal Government to begin to see the urgent need for an engagement of the perpetrators of the latest hostilities, which if not addressed may lead to the near removal of livelihood from the country.

“As much as the amnesty program cannot forever continue, perhaps the timing for its stoppage isn't yet, especially as even the blind can see that survival is seriously becoming hard in this country much more for a people who has nothing else but oil. An adage will say, call the mad man the groom so we could have a path to pass. If this be the way out, let the government think.” the statement ended.