The Presidency on Sunday defended the yearly award of about N5.6bn contracts to former Niger Delta militants to protect oil pipelines. It said the contract was in the interest of the nation.

Speaking in a telephone interview with our correspondent, the Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said Nigeria had benefited immensely from the exercise.

He said that the volume of crude oil being produced in the country had increased tremendously since the exercise commenced.

A Wall Street Journal report last week focused on the yearly payment of about N5.6bn to former Niger-Delta war-lords for guarding the oil pipelines in the restive region.

The report gave a break-down of the militants involved in the contracts as ‘General’ Government Tompolo Ekpumopolo,N3.6bn; Asari Dokubo, 1.44bn; ‘General’ Ateke Toms,N560m and ‘General’ Ebikabowei Boyloaf Victor Ben, N560m.

While defending the government action, which Okupe said was done by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, he said, “Since this exercise began, the crude oil production has jumped from 1.8mbpd to 2.6mbpd.

“That is an increment of over $700m income per day to the government. So, when you compare what was paid to get this benefit, it pales into insignificance.”

He said the issue of pipeline and their safety were matters of national security and should not be politicised.

Okupe said it was on record that oil majors were already engaged in community protection of pipelines and there was no better way to secure the pipelines than to employ members of the community within the community were built.

Moreover, he said the transaction for the contracts were “with NNPC and corporate organisations who have the abilities to protect the pipelines and the nation is enjoying the benefits.”

But the Congress for Progressive Change in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Fashakin, argued that the Jonathan regime had earlier in the year, awarded the contract for the nation’s maritime security to Global West Vessel Specialist Agency, a private firm owned by Ekpumopolo.

It said that the reason given by the Federal Government for its action “is the inability to ‘source’ the $103m needed to invest over a 10-year period on a Project expected to garner N124bn into the nation’s coffers, generate 1,375 direct jobs and 1,620 indirect jobs.”

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2320-presidency-defends-n56bn-paid-to-ex-militants

700 million dollars a day and still Naija is one big hole of shit.

Point of correction. The money spent on crooks is for the benefit of some people and not the nation.

@acidosis. I Seconded

Those foot soldiers collecting 65k per month will soon revolt.

toluxa1: So how does this affect the price of Cassava Bread?

When militants vex again these time with more weapons, then u go no say man shall not live by cassava bread alone..

Na so we go dey dey?

Do u know with that huge amount generated everyday we can afford to pay welfare package to the unemployed in our society instead of the stupid N5,000 note idea. Welfare package would create more opportunities and spending on consumer goods

To me dat amount is even too small to talk about

easiest ways to make it in nigeria
1) become a politician
2)become a militant
3)become an oil bunkerer
4)kidnap for ransom

The Presidency on Sunday defended the yearly award of about N5.6bn contracts to former Niger Delta militants to protect oil pipelines. It said the contract was in the interest of the nation.

“That is an increment of over $700m income per day to the government. So, when you compare what was paid to get this benefit, it pales into insignificance.”

comparing the above figure N5.6B yearly is nothing compared to $700million x N160 per day since its " there was no better way to secure the pipelines than to employ members of the community within the community were built." i feel its not bad as such however i do hope tomorrow they will not hold the nation hostage and i hope other gangs/militancy would not feel any government facilities will be protected else they destroy it if they are not paid. Hope this doesnt turn bad.

Okija_juju: WOW!!!

Why did I waste all my life getting an education, over 100 Thousand US Dollars in fees and stuff only for some low life criminal that has kidnapped, killed and maimed law abiding and tax paying citizens to be living better than me?!!

Like can someone tell me agin why I shouldnt invest 10,000 Dollars in sofisticated arms, ammo, explosives and combat gears and go blow up a few pipelines?!! I mean, with my education, I should be able to pull off a more sophisticated and devastating strike on oil installations nationwide..

nigeria is hell hole bro ! If u get any idea how we go take over thrown those guys let me know abeg. Me fit develop biological weapon of mass destruction, i once isolatied that flu virus in broilers used it on albino rats and within 24hrs abt 85 of them died i did it in form of a spray and fumigatied the rats and the died, i did it in a tightly regulated environment though. I rented an apartment and bought a deep freezer for research

Interesting.............

Conspiracy of silence.

ebamma: easiest ways to make it in nigeria
1) become a politician
2)become a militant
3)become an oil bunkerer
4)kidnap for ransom

What about BH?

let just be patient till 2015,when i get to that seat by God willing, i wil do every thing withen my power to sanitize the entire system.

gabriel74:
What about BH?

Ass that too..
And Political Thugery.

alienware: nigeria is hell hole bro ! If u get any idea how we go take over thrown those guys let me know abeg. Me fit develop biological weapon of mass destruction, i once isolatied that flu virus in broilers used it on albino rats and within 24hrs abt 85 of them died i did it in form of a spray and fumigatied the rats and the died, i did it in a tightly regulated environment though. I rented an apartment and bought a deep freezer for research

Bros u dey watch too much jack bauer. When you go start dey produces nukes and nerve gas??

....

these war-lords were said to b agitating for the better welfare of NigerDeltans

Now with these payments and pipe-lines not being blown up, is it safe to say the welfare of the NigerDeltans have improved greatly?

And ermmmm, who are they protecting the pipelines from??

ukpaku: u and cassava product nawa oo, ee go block ur nyash one day oo.

hahhahahahahaha abeq i think say na only me dey folo see ooo,that dude too like cassava

Okija_juju: WOW!!!

Why did I waste all my life getting an education, over 100 Thousand US Dollars in fees and stuff only for some low life criminal that has kidnapped, killed and maimed law abiding and tax paying citizens to be living better than me?!!

Like can someone tell me agin why I shouldnt invest 10,000 Dollars in sofisticated arms, ammo, explosives and combat gears and go blow up a few pipelines?!! I mean, with my education, I should be able to pull off a more sophisticated and devastating strike on oil installations nationwide than those useless illiterate Militants did..

If a band of literate folks are ready to form a terrorist group with emphasis on e-terrorism, oil and gas terrorism, let me know..

My nickname: Commander Alusi Okija...

If u knw d amount generated 4rm oil daily and we are stil suffering u wil b tempted to carry arms. Education suppreses our violence nature

toluxa1: So how does this affect the price of Cassava Bread?

This is becoming irritating.

ukpaku: let just be patient till 2015,when i get to that seat by God willing, i wil do every thing withen my power to sanitize the entire system.

You mean when u become president of NURTW right

The amnesty programme was a WIN-WIN for government and militants. Brilliant by Yar'adua. Only fear is what hisblud has raised so let's just hope they remained satisfied.

Since the FG is presently negotiating with Boko Haram, a few billions too will be given to them to shut them up. Shebi its our (nigerians) money? Give it to them and when it finishes, we will now be staring at each others empty palms.

ukpaku: u and cassava product nawa oo, ee go block ur nyash one day oo.

hahhahahahahaha abeq i think say na only me dey folo see ooo,that dude too like cassava

what a country were terrorist and militants are rewarded.

Up Next! 10bn naira for bokoharam amnesty....then after 6 months, another group will come up.