Senate on Thursday began Investigation into mismanagement of Presidential Amnesty Programme budget since its inception worth over N328 billion.
Senate had on July directed its Committee on Niger Delta to carry out a holistic investigation into the Amnesty Programme to ascertain the progress recorded so far, identify the challenges and make recommendation on the way forward.
However, at the opening ceremony of the investigative hearing, the chairman of Committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi expressed dissatisfaction with the management of Amnesty programme since its inception during the tenure of late President Shehu Umaru Yar’adua.
He said purpose of establishing the programme has been compromised adding that Youths restiveness have returned to Niger Delta Region.
He said: “Yes, until recently, because from media reports, it does appear that the objectives of the amnesty programme have been compromised and failing to actualize those lofty goals.
“As we speak, restiveness has returned back to the country without completing their training, the trained ones cannot find employment, companies are leaving are leaving the region, pipeline and other strategic national infrastructure are being destroyed and the national crude oil output drastically reduced.
“If we take into account the crashed price of crude oil in international market, we would then appreciate the impact of these on the Nigerian economy.”
In his presentation, Chief Jombo who claimed to be development consultancy vowed to create another trouble in the Region if he is not paid N2 billion owed him by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Jombo said the development of NDDC master plan cannot solve the problem of the region.
It could be recalled that the motion was sponsored by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) which was seconded by Senator Mathew Urhoghide (Edo South).
Senator Anyanwu had noted with concern the recent restiveness in the Niger Delta region of the country. He said such restiveness has resulted in the disruption of oil production in the region.
“The main source of our revenue is oil production from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
The disruption of oil production is not the only adverse effect of the restiveness but also environmental degradation from the oil spillage due to blown pipes,” Anyanwu said.
He recalled that the Federal Government under the leadership of late President Umar Yar’Adua addressed the youth restiveness by instituting the Amnesty Programme.
Anyanwu added that the programme which was well funded gave educational scholarships to youths that are indigenes of the Niger Delta.
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