The federal government has promised to offset outstanding stipends to former militants in the Niger Delta, after a protest led to the blockade of the East West Road on Monday.



The ex-militants, under the Presidential Amnesty Scheme, in the early hours of Monday blocked the East-West road/Mbiama axis linking Bayelsa and Rivers state over the nonpayment of their five months stipends, subjecting road users to hours of traffic gridlock.
The blockade was lifted after the intervention of the commander of the Joint Military Force, Operation Delta Safe, Joseph Okojie, a Rear Admiral, who appealed to promised that the government would pay the stipends within the week.
The coordinator of the presidential amnesty programme, Paul Boroh, also said the federal government would pay ex-militants outstanding stipends this week.
The coordinator stated this in statement he issued in the wake of protests by the ex-militants over unpaid outstanding stipends.
Mr. Boroh, in the statement, explained that his office was doing everything possible to ensure that the stipends were paid as at when due.
"It will be counterproductive for ex-agitators to take to the streets at a time the federal government is making frantic efforts to address the challenges facing the programme.
"Anti-social actions, such as violent street protests, among others, could be hijacked by hoodlums to cause mayhem on innocent and law abiding citizens, to discredit the programme and embarrass the government," he said.
The amnesty coordinator also called on all ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region to shun acts that are inimical to public peace.
In his own appeal, Ebi John, Leader of the Third Phase, Niger-Delta Amnesty Programme, urged his colleagues to shun acts of violence adding that only peace can engender development.
"I am appealing to my colleagues to be patient as plans are on top gear to ensure that the stipends are paid this week," Mr. John told journalists in Yenagoa.

source: allafrica

http://omoboriowo..com.ng/2016/07/fg-to-pay-ex-niger-delta-militants.html

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