Group seeks NSA, PAP’s collaboration to tackle oil theft

To encourage operators of unlicensed artisanal refineries and pipeline vandals to embrace dialogue that will enhance their economic well-being and that of Nigeria, a group, the Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas (CDC), says it’s willing to collaborate with the Presidential Amnesty Office and the National Security Adviser Office.

CDC BoT Chairman & Convener of South South Reawakening Group, Joseph Ambakederimo, made the intention known Thursday while addressing journalists in Warri, Delta State, on the Presidential Amnesty Programme efforts on entrepreneurship pursuit in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

Ambakederimo, who reflected on
how the Presidential Amnesty Program proclaimed by former President Umaru Musa Ya’dua came into being in 2009, averred that the issues that led to the proclamation were still much alive in the hearts of people of the Niger Delta.

He said until the appointment of the PAP boss, Dr Dennis Otuaro by President Tinubu, managing the programme was a daunting task.

Describing Otuaro, who’s a product of the programme, as a round peg in a round hole, the group said the people of the region were pleased with his activities so far from consultations with stakeholders for purposes of formulating policies to further secure a tranquil region for businesses to thrive to entrepreneurship development mostly targeted at women in the region.

He, therefore, urged governors of the Niger Delta region and the Federal Government to support the efforts of the Amnesty boss in the area of increased finance.

“It is often said that a peaceful environment is needed for people and businesses to thrive which also is an economic driver for growth and rapid development.

“In achieving this, we need to take young people off the streets and engage them to become useful to themselves and to society, this time with a particular reference to the ex-agitators often referred to as (Militants).

“Today many of them have acquired degrees and lofty laurels in diverse fields but in the midst of all of these, there still lies a lacuna which we have identified and it is “entrepreneurship development.”

“Suffice it to say that Dennis Otuaro himself has also identified this gap of lack of building entrepreneurs to become owners of businesses that will form the bedrock of wealth and job creation.

“Going further the policy initiative pronounced recently by the Amnesty boss in focusing on the entrepreneurship development specifically targeted at women in the region is a new high and is highly commended by us.

“This is a determination to create an everlasting impact in the region by redirecting the minds of our young women folks to a productive lifestyle.

“Economic growth and Industrialization, including entrepreneurship development in the Niger Delta, are predicated on the judicious management and application of available resources to very key areas as already exemplified by the present leadership.

“Therefore it has become imperative for all of the Governors of the region to rally around the new leadership and form strong partnerships to usher in accelerated development of the region as gains for a sustainable peaceful environment is achieved.

“The phase of reintegration of the programme is the most critical aspect of the programme which entails the training and retraining, acquisition of skills and entrepreneurship development training, monitoring and mentorship.

“All of these are capital intensive and need quick intervention of the Federal Government so that we do not slide back into crisis situations as it were.

“Similarly, the call for the expansion of the Amnesty Program is made to accommodate the operators of the unlicensed refineries to stem the tide of increasing oil theft.

“There is no better institution or agency than the Amnesty Program to further expand its horizons to take in operators of the unlicensed refineries who are ready to give up the trade and work with the government to find alternative incentives for them to engage in.

“The recent pronouncement made by the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme that the area of more scholarships will be offered to the young people of the region is a welcome development, it will help to stem the recruitment of young people into the business of pipeline vandalism and other vices.

“Information at our disposal is that many youngsters are being recruited into becoming operators of unlicensed refineries, government must do more to redirect the narrative and the Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas (CDC) is willing to collaborate with the Presidential Amnesty Office to continue the CDC’s ongoing engagement with the operators of the unlicensed refineries and pipeline vandals to embrace dialogue that will enhance their own economic well-being and that of the Nigerian State.”