Buhari releases fresh N30bn for amnesty programme

President Muhammadu Buhari has released additional N35 billion to step up the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said yesterday that it was in sustenance of the new understanding between the federal government and the oilproducing communities of Niger Delta.

He said although the federal government had approved a N20 billion allocation for the Amnesty Programme in the 2016 budget, Buhari has raised the funds to N55 billion with the recent release of additional N30 billion.

Akande said, “there is also a planned release of another N5 billion later. Currently, the Amnesty Office has now paid up all ex-militants backlog of their stipends up to the end of 2016.

“The release of the additional funds is coming after presidential level interactive engagements in the Niger Delta, where the Buhari administration enunciated a New Vision for the oil-producing areas based on the presentation made by the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, to the president when he received leaders and stakeholders from the region last November.

“Subsequently, the president asked his deputy, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, to embark on a tour of the region that saw him visiting several oil-producing states in the country.”

He said beside the monthly payment of about N65, 000 to N66,000 to the ex-militants, the funds would also go to the provision of reintegration activities under the Amnesty Programme including payment of tuition fees for beneficiaries from Niger Delta who are in post-secondary institutions at home and abroad, payment of in-training and hazard allowances and vocational training costs.

“There are also empowerment schemes and self-help, selfemployment support funds, including provision of needed equipment by the Amnesty Office. Equally, the funds would support the training of pilots, aviation engineers, technicians, and motor vehicles mechanics from the oilproducing communities.

“The Buhari administration reassures the Niger Delta communities of its unalloyed commitment to a faithful implementation of its promises made during the interactive engagement visits by the Vice President to different oilproducing communities

“Other promises made during the visits are currently at different stages of implementation, including the opening of the Maritime University, integration of illegal refiners under the concept of new Modular Refineries, resumption of all abandoned construction projects in the region, the Ogoni Clean-up, and several others”, he said.