Abuja -The Federal Government says it is committed to dialogue as a means to ensure the return of peace to the Niger Delta region as quickly as possible.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani said this while inaugurating a Technical Committee on Peace and Stability on the Niger Delta as part of initiatives to restore peace in the region.
The ceremony which took place in Abuja on Tuesday had in attendance heads of security agencies as well as stakeholders from the private sector.
“Some persons in the region think they are not being carried along by the Federal Government and the best way they can get along is to destroy oil facilities.
“We heard that some politicians were behind what was going on and another version said some contractors protecting pipelines created it to win or extend their contracts.
“The Federal Government will not succumb to the activities of saboteurs, because it is obvious that they don’t have tangible reasons to perpetrate criminality against the country.
“We are open to dialogue, especially with the communities, but we are also carrying out investigations to locate the people responsible for this act of sabotage.’’
He stated that in some countries, it was a criminal offence which attracted capital punishment “because they are enemies of the society.’’
Usani described the latest bombing of oil and gas infrastructure in the region as a criminal act.
The minister decried the level of destruction of oil and gas facilities and platforms in the region.
According to him, available information indicated that there are several versions to the reports on renewed agitations in the region.
The minister, however, said that the Federal Government would not assume that the people behind the act did not have dangerous motives.
He said that the government had the duty to stop the perpetrators.
According to him, the committee has been saddled with the responsibility to manage and advice the government on security matters in the region.
He said that Nigeria was a country with great potential which needed a peaceful and secured environment for it to attain higher heights.
“Nigeria is a country of endless potential and we will assist in attracting more investments to the country.
“The basic issue about the Niger Delta region is employment and this can only be realised in an environment that is conducive for investment.”
Also speaking, the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, retired Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh said any group that had grievances against the government could resolve them through dialogue.
Boroh, however, adviced communities in the region to be more vigilant in order to protect oil and gas pipelines in the region.
“Security is everybody’s responsibility because the implications and consequences of insecurity equally affect everyone.
“The Presidential Amnesty Programme is a security stabilisation programme.
“It is not responsible for the placement and deployment of security personnel in the oil and gas facilities and assets of the Federal Government in the region.
“Individuals and communities therefore have their role to play to complement government’s effort to ensure peace and stability, which are necessary for development of the region.’’
He denied insinuations that the programme had been cancelled, saying that the it still ongoing and that the challenge of release of funds to beneficiaries was being addressed.
The committee headed by the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Prof. Cladius Daramola, has representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Army, Department of State Service, and Ministry of Information and Culture.
Others are the Ministries of Defence and Interior, Niger Delta Development Commission, Presidential Amnesty Programme Office, Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
