Non-release of Amnesty Funds Frustrating Peace Process, Say Militants

Ex-militant leaders from the nine states of the Niger Delta yesterday wrote the federal government over unpaid amnesty funds, maintaining that withholding the budget for the programme was capable of derailing the ongoing peace process.

Specifically, the former agitators organised under the Leadership, Peace and Cultural Development Initiative (LPCDI), said the Ministry of Finance had refused to release the 2016 supplementary budgetary allocation meant for the Presidential Amnesty initiated by late President Umar Yar'Adua.

“The non-remittance of the fund is creating a sense of frustration among the amnesty beneficiaries and the ongoing peace process”, said Mr Reuben Wilson, aka, ‘General' Pastor, leader of the group.

According to Wilson, “the militant leaders, after an emergency meeting held on Wednesday 22nd March 2017 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, resolved that the minister of finance should promptly release the funds for the effective and efficient management of the programme.

"This is to strengthen the ongoing efforts of the federal government to enthrone lasting peace in the Niger Delta region.

The prompt release of the funds will go a long way in strengthening the efforts of the President towards enthronement peace and stability in the Niger Delta”.

The former militants expressed concerns over the shortage of funds in the amnesty office to carry out its programmes which they said were designed to permanently eradicate restiveness in the region.

According to the group, many beneficiaries of the programme, including students were currently on the verge of being sent back to Nigeria.

“At the moment, students under the presidential amnesty program studying abroad are about to be sent back home because of failure to pay school fees and accommodation", they said.