http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=152729

Repentant Militants to Get Jobs in Oil, Gas Sectors
•Tompolo agrees to lay down arms
From Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja and Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt, 08.26.2009

The Federal Government has continued to seek ways to quell the Niger Delta conflict. And the latest effort is geared towards providing job opportunities for repentant militants  in  oil and gas, information and communication technology and agriculture sectors, THISDAY has learnt.
Besides, Honourary Special Adviser to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua on Niger Delta, Mr. Timi Alaibe, yesterday met with traditional rulers of Gbaramatu kingdom and Government Ekpumopolo aka Tompolo, who he said hadfinally agreed to surrender his arms.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaette, disclosed the employment initiative yesterday in Abuja while delivering a speech titled: “Our Roadmap to Peace and Security in the Niger Delta Region: The 7-Point Agenda Connection,” at the opening of a 3-day  National Programme on Human Resource Development for Enhanced National Security organised by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in collaboration with the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Hiltton Communications Limited.

Information made available by the minister indicates that relevant private service providers that would train the militants has been identified.
“In preparation for the provision of employment for ex-militants, the ministry has already identified qualified private sector service providers to train and provide jobs for trainees," said Ekaette.

A programme for special skills acquisition will be introduced for the youths as well, it was gathered. Other areas of focus include artisanship and integrated agriculture.

Ekaette explained that “while the security agencies are handling the disarmament and demobilisation of the ex-militants, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has worked out modalities for the re-integration of those who sign up for the amnesty. The re-integration involves reconciliation of ex-militants with the society through value re-orientation, mental adjustment as well as rehabilitation."

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Professor Fab Onah of the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, bemoaned  the lack of bio-data and forensic records as well as adequate funding for security agencies in the country which he said was affecting national security and  urged government to expedite action in this regard.

The event was attended by security agencies including the State Security Services (SSS), Police, Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigerian Navy. Ekaette was represented by Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs Ann Eneta.

Meanwhile, Alaibe has assured the country that Tompolo will participate in the amnesty programme with his boys, after holding talks with the militant leader. He, however, declined further comments as he said he had to brief the President first to avoid details of such a mission ending up on the pages of newspapers.

While the leaders and traditional institutions in the Kingdom whom he also met agreed to lay down their arms, they requested that their neighbours be disarmed to avoid being taken by surprise.

Alaibe who was accompanied by officials of Ijaw Youth Council and Ijaw Youths Congress, Dr. Chris Ekiyo and Kingsley Kuku toured Oporoza, Kurutie and Okerenkoko to see the extent of damage to houses and personal properties. He was said to be amazed at the level of destruction, especially the looting of Okerenkoko Cottage hospital where all equipment, beddings and drugs were removed.

At Oporoza where the community received him at the palace of the paramount ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, HRM Godwin Benenibo, the community said they were unhappy that their palace which took them 10 years to build was razed to the ground by JTF.

They said that athough they contributed a lot to the national purse, there was little or nothing in their kingdom to show for their contributions.

They also lamented that there was no justification for the destruction visited on 53 of their communities. They however said they would prove that they were peace loving people by accepting the Federal Government's amnesty.

The position of the Kingdom was made known by Chief J. Ari who demanded from the Presidency details of the post amnesty plans.

Oh! the man the fear to? I thought he was "god". Nonsense.

Me self be militant o. I want job for NLNG too . Or else ,

Hope government will be able to meet all these promises. Its getting too much.

The man's name is Government, how can he surrender his suzerainty to another sovereign government. I tire for this Ijaw pple self.

Nigerians are really desperate for peace in the niger delta.
They long for peace but they are not too keen on full justice.
Can there be peace without justice?