FG And Ex-Militants Meet In Benin Over Niger Delta Avengers

The Federal Government and ex-militants have resolved to end the

ongoing pipeline

vandalism in the Niger Delta region, an official has said.

Paul Boroh, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger-Delta

Matters and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, said this at the end of a

meeting he convened in Benin.

Mr. Boro, a retired Brigadier General, told journalists on Saturday

night that the

pipeline vandalism in the Niger-Delta was reducing the economic fortune of the

country and inflicting pains on Nigerians.

He urged the agitators to dialogue with the relevant authorities over their

grievances and shun destruction of oil installations.

He assured that plans were in the pipeline to provide the ex-militants

with welfare

and a housing scheme in addition to the existing programme and projects.

Mr. Boroh stressed the need to find lasting solutions to the current

situation in the

region.

The common factor is security challenges we are facing in our areas,

in our region

that is affecting the economy of the country.

"Personally it makes me feel bad that we don't know how to solve our problem.

"To you my comrades, it is our responsibility to make sure that

insecurity in our

environment is well sorted out. Please let us do everything we can to make sure

that doesn't occur again."

Mr. Boroh, who was optimistic about the success of the meeting, said: "We have

all resolved that we will put our heads and hands and all in all

together to prevent

the re-occurrence of this type of thing."

He assured oil firms in the country that the Federal Government is

dedicated to end

the problems associated with bombing.

"Collectively we (Federal Government and ex-militants) have agreed to work as a

team to 2prevent re-occurrence.

"We feel bad that it is happening, it is affecting our economy and it

is affecting

development and we are very concern about it."

Some of the 'militants' who were present affirmed to what the special

adviser said

and pledged to support the federal government to bring lasting peace

to the Niger-

Delta, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

(NAN)