Niger Delta Amnesty Programme: We Have Injected Another N35Billion, Says Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that the federal government has injected another sum of N35 billion into the Niger Delta Amnesty programme for greater impact of the programme on the people of the Niger/Delta region.

Theme of the summit is,  “Fast-Tracking The Development Of The Niger Delta Region: Options And Prospects”.

He maintained that the federal government under President Buhari was committed to the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme with a view to ensuring peace in the region, adding that the initiative has recorded tremendous achievements since the beginning of this present government.

Osinbajo assured that the federal government would continue to invest in the Niger Delta region for the overall development of the region and the
country at large soliciting for the co-operation of all stakeholders in the
region.

On the Ogoni land Clean Up, Vice President said it was a continuous programme, which the administration

of President Muhammadu Buhari has committed itself to, stressing that
the exercise would be extended to all parts of the Niger Delta region.

He therefore called for the sustenance of peace already achieved in the region, stressing that the Buhari’s administration is committed
to ensuring peace in all parts of the country.

“We have started with the clean up of Ogoni land and we will continue with the exercise which is still on going. We will ensure clean up of all polluted areas. What we are doing in the area is called hydro carbon clean up and this will not be limited to Ogoni land,” he
stated.

Osinbajo also said that the present administration had set up various inter-ministerial committees on the development of the Niger Delta region, saying that the Maritime University, Delta State which was established by the federal government will kick off next month.

According to him, the federal government committed the sum of #2
billion to the establishment of the university, which he said would focus on maritime training.

Also speaking, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani said his ministry in collaboration with International Agencies is expending 15million Euro on two acquisition centres and other developmental projects.

According to him, he said that #25billion was added in 2017 budget while additional fund shall be added in the year 2018 budget to support the issuance of refinery license for the Niger Delta region.

Uguru Usani however commended the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration for focusing on modular infrastructural projects which he said would ensure that the people derived more benefits from the infrastructural projects in the region.

In his own statement, Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) stressed the need for the federal government to develop the Niger Delta region, stressing that the welfare of the people of the region should be
paramount to the government.

His words, “issues of gross infrastructural deficit, security challenges and the general absence of social amenities expected in a modern
society remain intractable. This region presents a cruel paradox; the
entire country depends on it almost entirely for sustenance. It, however, lacks evidence of development depicting its status as the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg.

“We must seize the opportunity offered by this special meeting to ruminate on the methods adopted whose impact have been insignificant in bridging the infrastructural gap. It is also incumbent on us to set our priorities right. Embarking on any white elephant projects cannot be in their interest.

“Consequently, it would appear reasonable that all those saddled with
the responsibility of alleviating the suffering of those citizens residing in this region should have priorities reflective of the dire needs of the region. No doubt, our efforts to fast-track development and peace will depend on how well we are able to interpret existing
outcomes against the expectations of our people.

“We are not oblivious of the long history of development intervention
in the oil producing areas. We are equally aware of the commendable
efforts made by past administrations to transform the physical and economic landscape of the region. These engagements have yielded positive results, even if marginal. We must, however, not fail to mention the glaring facts of grinding and relentless poverty which has been the lot of the region. This is deplorable.

“However, moving beyond the rhetoric of capacity building and development intervention, we owe it a duty to evolve a sustainable means of genuinely empowering the youth of the region through job creation and inclusion in decision-making processes. We must cater for the aged and other vulnerable groups and engender opportunity for
wealth creation and redistribution through private sector driven investments. We must provide potable water and electricity for our
people, provide them access to quality healthcare, safeguard their
environment, and give them a sense of belonging in matters concerning
them.

“We believe that opening our deep sea for economic activities will serve as a tremendous boost, we such as Oliver Twist, therefore request from the Federal Government an approval of license for the establishment of a Deep Sea Mining Port in the Ilaje Free Trade Zone. The state coastline which is about 120km is the longest and the deepest in Nigeria and West Africa Sub-Region”.