FG gives fresh conditions for peace in Niger Delta

Federal Government, yesterday, gave fresh conditions for peace to reign in the Niger Delta region.

At a meeting with members of the Niger Delta Peoples Congress, NDPC, held at the Presidential Villa, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo told the group to prevail on militants to stop bombing of oil facilities and pipelines.

He also told the group, led by Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete Spiff, to address the issue of continued vandalism in the region, which has negatively affected the country’s revenue from oil.

According to him, the problems in the region had always been there, adding that the elites in all parts of the country have a key role to play to end the problems in their different regions.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting held behind closed-door, Coordinator of the group, Chief Mike Loyibo said the initial 16-point demand presented to the government by some elders of the region about two weeks ago was not all encompassing.

He said issues of oil derivation and job losses which some of the militants had suffered were not included in the earlier demands.

According to him, they came to present other issues that were not covered in the 16- point demand.

He said certain salient issues were left out in the first presentation, stressing that issues of derivation was completely delisted from list while the issue of 6,000 job loss from the multinationals and the amnesty programme was not addressed.

It would be recalled that some elders and stakeholders of the region had on November 1, met with President Muhammadu Buhari where they made a 16-point demand which would ensure lasting solution to the problems of the region.

The demands include review of the amnesty programme to ensure genuine exit strategy and law and justice on issue affecting the area.

They asked the government to address the issue of military presence, plight of Internally Displaced Persons, the Ogoni clean up and environmental remediation; Maritime University and key regional critical infrastructure.

The stakeholders also demanded security surveillance and protection of oil and gas infrastructure, relocation of administrative and operational headquarters of oil companies, power supply as well as economic development and empowerment.

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