*Accepts amnesty, pipeline protection plan for Niger Delta militants
The President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has agreed to re-engage persons from communities in the Niger Delta region to protect oil pipelines.
This is in order to find a lasting solution to the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta region.
The federal government has also agreed to restore the amnesty programme that they blamed ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for.
The government at the center promised to restructure the amnesty programme so as to address the critical issue raised by the inhabitants of the region.
Other matters to be addressed include the complaint of neglect by the government and international oil companies.
Recently, Nigeria’s crude production has dropped in recent times from about 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) to around 1.4 million bpd.
The drop is credited to the vandalisation of critical oil pipelines by agitators in the region.
This development has resulted in the country losing its place as Africa’s top oil producer to Angola.
The Muhammadu Buhari administration had, before now, threatened military action against the perpetrators who it had described as economic saboteurs.
However, the government has retracted in a statement issued yesterday by the spokesman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Garba Deen Muhammad.
The federal government announced that it had resolved to work with stakeholders from the Niger Delta region.
Government hopes to stop the recent upsurge in attacks on critical oil and gas installations
It also hopes to ensure security, stability and economic development of the area.
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