Federal Government  has agreed  to open the third phase of the Amnesty Programme with 3,642 ex-militants, the Special Adviser to Nigeria President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku,  has said.

Kuku, who is also  Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, said  this in Arogbo, Ese Odo Local Government Ondo State on Monday while addressing  members  of the Peoples Democratic Party at a rally  for the  PDP’s candidate for the October 20 governorship poll in the state, Chief Olusola Oke.

Kuku said 3,642 persons would join the  26,368 beneficiaries  of the programme,  bringing  the total number to 30,000.

He said, “The expansion was sequel to the agitation from those that were not considered in the first phases of the programme.
“There is agitation going on in the Niger Delta and I have always being at the fore front of the clamour that the amnesty programme has to close, the boys are unrelenting and the security agencies have collected their arms.

“The only option opened to us is to return their arms. So if we are not going to return their arms, they should be included in the programme one way or the other.
“My office and that of the National Security Adviser have met and forwarded a memo to the President to consider the final inclusion of 3,642 persons to the  current  26,368 to make it 30,000.”
He said the programme was also being expanded to include those people that did not carry arms during the Niger Delta militancy but that were working for the ex- agitators.
Kuku said, “The militants were assisted by informants and other helpers; so the armed ones will not do anything without those helping them.We are talking of a process that even when we have dealt with these categories of people we still have problem, hence the extension.
“We have to include law-abiding citizens of these communities in the programme. Unless we do this, we will be telling the communities that they can only be empowered if they carry arms.
“In order to cancel that message which has been backfiring in this programme, it is important to include these people who are close to some forms of restiveness in their communities.”
He said  the Federal Government had awarded   projects valued at over N10bn in the Ijaw speaking area of Ondo state.
He said the  Niger Delta Development Commission  had awared the N6.1bn Agadagba-Obon-Arogbo bridge, while the contract for the construction of a  three- kilometre road in Arogbo town has been awarded
He also said the NDDC  had awarded the N4.7bn shore protection job,  including   a drainage  system to be constructed in the community.
He said the projects were part of the 2011 capital projects of the commission in the state, adding that the leadership crisis in  the agency last year delayed their execution.

WOW . . . . . Nigeria is now to pay over 30,000 terrorists 10s of millions of dollars each year?

Ratatatatatata kpooooom! Amnesty should be encouraged. Atleast we are enjoying free flow of oil, and our revenue has steadied. These guys shouldn't be allowed to take up arms again.

This is good news!
Make SOUTH-SOUTH chop small!
Awa almajiris must survive ke.

Next Boko Haram. . .MASSOB. . .then OPC last!
By then the oil go don finish!

It's a shame on the militants. Should someone or their children ask them where they got the money to buy garr..i, cars, marry etc. How are they gon reply? He benefited from an amnesty programme, cos he was/is a militant? It's a shame.

Will someone please tell this administrator, mr Kuku, that there are Ijaws in Lagos stateand Im their Chief.. If we are not settled we will sink the govt jetty upstram from alcove.

That is the seat of Nigeria's revenue, the people must enjoy their wealth. Since amnesty has guaranteed peace, Govt should be encouraged in This regard.

Ratatatatatata kpooooom! The fourth phase should commence immediately. Revenue generation has steadied, the people should benefit form their resources.