The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ex-militants

  • Scholarship for ex-militants will bring peace, says VC

    Vice Chancellor of the Igbinedion University, Okada, Prof Eghosa Osaghea, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to scrap the scholarship programme for ex-militants in some private universities across the country.

    Osaghae said a total of 261 ex-militants who were beneficiaries of the Federal Government amnesty programme have graduated from the institution since 2015.

    Osaghea, who spoke at the 14th convocation of the institution, said the empowerment of Niger Delta youths through provision of quality education was critical to the resolution of conflicts in the region.

    He said the programmme should continue until the gains are consolidated.

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on his part said that Nigerians must embrace change and come up with innovative ideas capable of revolutionising the way they think and work for the country to move out of recession.

    Obaseki said the billions of naira spent by Nigerians to educate their children in foreign universities do not add value to the country’s economic growth in the short and medium term.

    He said Nigerians cannot continue to work at the level of the current economic challenges and expect solutions that can turn around its fortunes.

    The Edo governor said his administration would be driven by knowledge, data and established base lines.

    Obaseki said his administration is committed to reforming the education sector of the state with a view to creating knowledge-driven economy where Edo people can unlock their potentials.

    He said: “One of the key mid-term strategies to returning Nigeria to the path of inclusive economic growth and sustainable development is  reforming our education sector in such a manner that can unlock the creative potentials of our youths.

    “We must embrace change.We must come up with innovative ideas capable of revolutionising the way we think and work. One of the imperatives of my administration is to ensure that governance is driven by knowledge, data and established base lines.

    Honorary degrees were conferred on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, who was honoured with a doctorate degree in Law, Chairman of Egba Community, Pastor Osarenren Ighiwi and Group Managing Director of Nabegu Company, Alhaji Amina Nabegu.

    The institution’s College of Natural and Applied Science was named after the Ooni of Ife while one of the female hostels was named after his wife, Wuraola.

  • Unpaid amnesty stipends: Ex-militants drag FG, Boroh to court

    Unpaid amnesty stipends: Ex-militants drag FG, Boroh to court

    The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Thursday, fixed November 8 to hear a suit filed by 11 ex-militants against an ex-militant leader, Mr. Emomotimi Ukparasia, popularly known as ‘General’ Africa, following non-payment of their amnesty stipends.

    Also joined in the suit are the Federal Government, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Gen. Paul Boroh (retd) and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    The ex-militants, who were in the camp of Africa, are praying the court to declare that they are validly qualified beneficiaries of the amnesty programme.

    They are also seeking a declaration that the defendants are liable especially Boroh for the payment of their allowances from October 2009 till the termination of the programme.

    They are praying the court to mandate the defendants to pay “the sum of N65,000 multiplied by 11 persons being their monthly allowance from October 2009 to September 2012 amounting to N25.6million only and the total accruals of their allowances at the termination of this suit”.

    In their statement of claims, the ex-militants averred that they accepted the amnesty declaration of the Federal Government, submitted themselves to the disarmament process and participated fully in the post amnesty orientation training at Obubra, Cross River State.

    They said they were given three certificates each by the trainees who were contracted for the training by the government.

    According to them, they were identified by Africa for admission into the camp and issued identity cards by the Presidential Amnesty Programme adding that having passed through the processes they became qualified to benefit from the programme.

    They further averred that based on their qualifications, the defendants asked them to open accounts in different banks for the payment of their stipends.

    “We concluded the training and ought to start receiving allowances from October 2009 till the end of the amnesty programme but have not received anything.

    “Since we finished our orientation and were asked to leave the camp with promises that we would start receiving our allowances, we have not received any allowance or any other monies for any reasons related to the amnesty programme from the defendant or any other persons”, they said.

    The suit listed the aggrieved ex-militants as Karibo Allen, Sunday Elijah, Utiki Claudius, Boukeme Nimitei, Kingsley Nichodemus, Leleindine and Sanga Sanga.

    Others are James Godgift, Philip Bibinibeye, Joseph Macdonus and Allison Timi-Izuo.

  • Ex-militants dissociate self from planned attack on CBN branches

    Ex-militants dissociate self from planned attack on CBN branches

    Former Niger Delta militants, under the auspices of the Second Phase Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), yesterday, distanced themselves from a report that they threatened to attack branches of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over unpaid stipends.

    The ex-militants, however, pleaded with the federal government to pay their three months arrears of outstanding stipends.

    The chairman of the phase in Bayelsa State, Ebina Salvation, in a statement urged President Muhammadu Buhari to view the amnesty programme as a security programme.

    He said the amnesty programme brought the fragile peace in the region lamenting that the delay that the delay in the payment of stipends to ex-militants was heating up the region.

    The ex-militant leader pleaded with the government to release adequate funds to the Amnesty Office for effective implementation of the programme.

    Salvation also called on the Federal Government to go back to the blueprint of the amnesty programme and implement its content by interfacing with the Coordinator of the scheme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and the ex-agitators.

    He discountenanced his from a statement purportedly written by factional leader of the programme, Stephen Ebisintei, who allegedly threatened to shut down all CBN branches.

    Salvation maintained that the Amnesty Office under the leadership of Boroh was doing well and therefore should not be blamed for the delay in the payment of their stipends.

    He said: “We, therefore, describe the allegations of the faction as false, baseless, mischievous and wicked. The allegations lack substance and should be thrown to the dustbin of history by all right thinking persons.

    “We, therefore, urge members of the group to discountenance Stephen Ebisintei’s display of falsehood which is a figment of his imagination and that of his co-travellers.”

    He called on the security agents to be alert, urging them to find out from amnesty office the recognised leadership of the Phase to enable them stop people using the name to issue unnecessary threats and publications.

    “That is the only way to hold people responsible if anything happens. Our leadership is enlightened, reasonable, law abiding and has respect for elders and the government,” he stated.

  • ‘Ex-militants build 32-seater bus’

    •Agric training for 13, 395 ex-agitators 

    The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig.-Gen Paul Boroh (retd), has said about 120 graduates sponsored by PAP built a 32-seater bus within nine months.

    Boroh said the graduates were supervised by the manufacturers of Innoson Motors in Anambra State.

    He said 80 ex-agitators were trained in plastic processing.

    The presidential aide, who addressed reporters yesterday in Abuja, affirmed that the 200 graduateswere offered automatic jobs by the automobile firm’s management.

    He said: “We visited Enugu State to attend the graduation of 80 graduates, who focused on plastic manufacturing. The next day, we visited Nnewi, in Anambra State; we went to Innoson Motors.

    “I am happy to say that 120 beneficiaries of the (Presidential) Amnesty Programme’s ex-agitators built a 32-seater bus from scratch to completion. Those who learnt electrical, mechanical and body work joined efforts to make the bus.

    “In all, 200 of them graduated under Innoson Motors. The good news is that the company has offered them appointments to work in the industry, which I applauded. And I advised them to take the jobs because they still need more knowledge to perfect what they have learnt.”

    On agriculture, Boroh said the Federal Government planned to engaged 30,000 ex-agitators in Imo State, adding that the remaining 13,395 would benefit from the agriculture training programme.

    The presidential aide said the Amnesty Office was partnering federal ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as well as development partners, such as the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), Israel Embassy and Netherlands Embassy, to execute the post-training programme.

    He noted that agriculture remained vital to reviving the economy, creating jobs, fighting poverty and increasing wealth.

    According to him, it was imperative to train youths in agriculture through partnership with the National Biotechnolgy Development Centre in Bayelsa.

    Boroh, who said the Amnesty programme was “highly expensive”, added that about 500 ex-militants would be trained at Odi in the next two weeks.

    The Amnesty chief said the training would include fish farming, grasscutter farming, snail farming, mushroom farming, plantain production as well as soap, detergent making.

    He said: “The Amnesty Office is trying to key into the National Agriculture Green initiative. We want to move from mono-economy to agriculture and solid minerals.

    “I discussed with the National Bio-resrource Development Centre at its Odi, Bayelsa State office, on modalities to train ex-agitators, and I was told the centre has the capacity to train 500. The 500 will be drawn from Niger Delta states but most of them will be from Bayelsa because of proximity.”

    The Amnesty chief said the programme was successful, adding that 50 graduates, who studied underwater wielding in Florida, the United States, would graduate tomorrow.

    He said the Amnesty Office expected 16 ex-agitators yesterday from Jordan.

    Boroh advised youths to embrace agriculture to enable the government realise a sustainable economy.

     

  • Boroh: Fed Govt to train 500 ex-militants in agric

    Boroh: Fed Govt to train 500 ex-militants in agric

    The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boro (retd) has said the Federal Government will train 500 former militants in agriculture and aquaculture under its Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

    Boro spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after his visit to Bio-Resources Development Centre (BIODEC) at Odi in Bayelsa State.

    He said the would-be trainees were selected from Akwa Ibom, Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers states. The special adviser said the training would create jobs and wealth for the youths, especially now that the nation is planning to diversify its economy.

    According to him, 18 other ex-militants have acquired skills in aquaculture under the programme.

    Boro, who is also the PAP Coordinator, said he toured the centre to monitor the progress of the workers and the livestock.

    He said: “The Amnesty Office is committed to training youths to become productive in the area of agriculture and aquaculture.

    “We will encourage them to plan their future, study and appreciate the value of knowledge in the modern society.”

  • Ex-militants protest non-payment of allowances

    Ex-militants, under the aegis Bakassi Freedom Fighters, yesterday went to the Government House in Calabar to protest the non payment of their allowances.

     According to sources, the spokesman for the ex-militants, Clarkson Dauerighe who, said the government had reneged on the agreement it reached with them.

     The former fighters demanded that something be done urgently to address the issue.

     The State Security Adviser to the governor, Mr. Jude Ngaji, told newsmen that the ex-militants came to drop a message for them to take to Abuja.

  • Ex-militants urge Tompolo, Avengers to surrender

    Ex-militants urge Tompolo, Avengers to surrender

    The Niger Delta Liberation Force (NDLF), the defunct militia group led by the late John Togo, has urged the embattled former militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo (Tompolo), to surrender himself to the Federal Government.

    The group also Urged the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) to call off their campaigns and accept dialogue as nobody can successfully fight government.

    In a statement circulated in Warri by the NDLF spokesman, Captain Mark Anthony, yesterday, the group described destruction of oil and gas facilities as criminal, noting that those involved in the current campaign were fighting a selfish course, aimed at protecting a failed business empire.

    The group urged the armed forces to be responsible in their conduct in the ongoing operations in the communities, recalling the level of destruction and killing which followed its campaigns in Ayakoromor in time past.

    “We are appealing to members of the Niger Delta Avengers to surrender and accept the part of dialogue. No group or individual can fight federal Government. We also appeal to Tompolo to surrender himself to the authorities on the part of peace to reign in Gbaramatu communities and parts of Niger Delta.

    “We NDLF have staged FG and untill today, we are still nursing our wounds. We also appeal to FG to employ internationally accepted military practices in Niger Delta. We could recalled during our experience, you guys (soldiers) bombed and burned Ayakoromor and killed several innocent persons.

    “Similar genocide is about to take place now, if caution is thrown into the wind on both parties. We repeat resolve once again, pipeline bombers are criminals, fighting a selfish course over failed business empire with the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We will always support Biuhari’s administration to succeed just as we supported former President Goodluck Jonathan,” the statement said.

     

     

  • Fed Govt meets with ex-militants to end pipeline bombing

    The Federal Government has met with ex-militants in the Niger Delta to end pipelines bombing in the country.

    The meeting was convened by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig- Gen. Paul Boroh with the Phase one, two, three ex-militants of the Amnesty Programme from Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and the Edo states.

    The meeting lasted over six hours in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Speaking with reporters after the strategic meeting, Brig.-Gen. Boro urged that those behind the bombings to stop and resolve their grievances through peaceful methods.

    He added that there were plans to provide welfare and housing scheme for the ex-militants.

    Brig.-Gen Boro said: “This amnesty programme is our programme and what has brought us so far is something that is happening now that affects all of us, whether you are living in the creek or outside. It is the issue of pipeline vandalism which I understand some people do it to make people feel bad or get recognised.

    “If you have issues, if you have misunderstanding, if you have anything worrying you at all, you should discuss it with the person you fell can solve the problem rather than go an destroy pipeline that is affecting the whole environment.

    “The common factor is security challenges we are facing in our areas, in our region that is affecting the economy of the country. It is another aspect that we should not be indulging in. if you have an issue with anybody please discuss it with the person better than bombing pipeline that would affect the environment. Personally it makes me feel bad that we don’t know how to solve our problem.”

    Brig.-Gen Boroh, who was optimistic about the meeting, said: “We have all resolved that we will put our heads and hands and all in all together to prevent the re-occurrence of this type of thing.

  • BoI plans capacity building for ex-militants

    BoI plans capacity building for ex-militants

    The Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the Niger Delta are to provide capacity and funding support for ex-militants.

    The deal is being struck by the two agencies of the Federal Government  to wind down the amnesty programme by 2018.

    Speaking during the meeting, which took place at the head office of BoI in Abuja, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for the Niger Delta, Brig-Gen. Paul Boro (rtd), said the programme office would need the support of the development finance institution on capacity building to enable the ex-militants channel their energies into productive ventures.

    Boro, who is also the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta, noted that apart from the provision of adequate funding support, the ex-militants require training in various Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) value chain.

    He noted that he needed to draw up a two-year exit plan for the ex-agitators to enable them acquire relevant skills that would enable them contribute their own quota to the economic development of the country.

    He explained that 5, 000 ex-militants would exit the programme in each quarter for the next two years after receiving requisite capacity building and skills acquisition trainings.

    BoI Acting Managing Director, Mr. Waheed Olagunju, noted that the bank had drawn up specific programmes targeted towards harnessing the potential of the youths to enable them provide employment, not only for themselves, but also for others.

    He, however, argued that various researches had indicated that contrary to some widely held views, capacity, not inadequate capital, is actually the problem of small business operators in Nigeria.

    To increase access to loans, particularly for the youth, Waheed said  the bank had adjusted its risk acceptance criteria, moving it away from provision of collateral to having officials, either from the private or public sector who is not below level 12 standing as surety in case of default.

    He said it is in the bank’s interest to provide capacity for not only the youths in the restive Niger Delta, but also in the entire nation.

    “And BoI has been in the vanguard of that through its youth centred initiatives such as Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF) designed for serving members of the National Youth Service Corps, in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Youth Entrepreneurship Support (YES) scheme and Vocational Skills Competition programme,” Waheed said.

  • Amnesty allowance: Panic as ex-militants protest again in Rivers

    Amnesty allowance: Panic as ex-militants protest again in Rivers

    There was panic yesterday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, when former militants stormed the major streets to protest alleged unpaid amnesty stipends.

    For over three months, the ex-militants have been protesting the unpaid stipends.

    They have protested the development, barricading the banks that were said to have been instructed to pay the stipends and blocking major roads in the Garden City.

    The over 500 ex-militants yesterday blocked the popular Aba-Road and Ikwerre Road, causing a gridlock as they called for the immediate payment of their stipends.

    Leader of the protesters, Mr Ndaka Eric, noted that the action would continue as long as the Federal Government refused to pay their allowances.

    He said the former agitators were allegedly denied payment because their passports could not be found.

    According to him, the passports were deliberately deleted to abandon some of the former militants.

    Eric said: “The ex-militants are worried that they have not received their payment for about five months. We have been denied the payment of our stipends; we are not happy. The protest will continue until we receive our allowances.

    “We are pleading with the leadership of the youth council in the state to intervene, to avoid further controversy and a breakdown of law. We will be happy if this issue is given urgent attention.”