Lagos (WorldStage Newsonline)-- The Federal Government of Nigeria lost over N3 trillion to the Niger Delta crisis between 2008 and 2010 when the restiveness in the region was at its peak, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, has disclosed.
Speaking during an interactive session with Niger Delta stakeholders over the weekend in Lagos, he explained that the loss of revenue was one of the reasons why the Federal Government resolved to pursue with all vigour the re- integration programme for ex- militants, with over 250 of them undergoing various vocational training programmes in marine welding and other skills in South Africa and Ghana.
"When the hostilities in the Niger Delta was on, crude oil exploration for export dropped from 2.3 millions barrel per day to 700,000 barrels per day, but with the restoration of peace in the region, Nigeria could meet and outpaced her quota for crude oil export in line with the prescriptions of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)," Kuku said.
He further explained that with the restoration of peace in the region, the three components of the Post Amnesty programme, which he listed as disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and provision of re-integration assistance to ex- militants were on without hindrance.
He said : " We all know that prior to the proclamation of amnesty, militancy and general insecurity in the region had virtually crippled Nigeria's economy. Investment inflow to the upstream sub sector of the oil and gas industry had dwindled remarkably and this threatened Nigeria's capacity to grow its crude oil reserves as planned. Nigeria had targeted 40 billion barrels proven reserves by the end of 2010, but insecurity in the Niger Delta led to exodus of investors from our country to more stable business opportunities in Africa.
'It got to a point where Nigeria's export dwindled to as low as 700,000 barrels per day, compared with a targeted 2.2 millions barrels per day for the first quarter of 2009. In 2008 alone, it was estimated that Nigeria lost over N3 trillion as a result of militancy in the Niger Delta.
“With the proclamation of amnesty for the militant agitators, relative peace has been restored in the Niger Delta, Nigeria has began to exercise more influence in the supply and pricing of oil."
The Special Adviser added that the overall re- integration agenda of the Federal Government was to groom the ex- militants to become gainfully employed and settle into society as useful citizens.
"It must be emphasized that the placement of the trainees in skill acquisition /vocational programmes is based on the interests of the ex- militants in areas such as pipeline welding, under water welding, ocean diving, crane operations, oil drilling, automobile technology, fish farming and entrepreneurship."
He however expressed disenchantment over the sloppy attitude of the operators in the oil and gas industry, who have only pledged to set up a special purpose vehicle to help in the re- integration of 3,000 ex- militants enrolled for the amnesty programme, which he affirmed was insufficient.
He further explained that government was exploring options for the proposed support of the oil and gas industry, even as efforts were on to fast track the setting up of a special purpose vehicle to manage the application of the funds to execute defined initiatives.
He said : "One of the major initiatives is training and capacity building for 3,000 beneficiaries over a six to 48 months period. We are insisting that oil companies cater for the reintegration needs of more than 3,000 persons as well as guarantee job placements for skilled former combatants."
He listed the challenges that the government was grappling with on the Post Amnesty re- integration programme to include lack of inadequate training centres in Nigeria, as only the Petroleum Training Institute, Warri, Delta State offers courses in under water welding.
Other challenges were the sloppy attitude of trainees towards the programme, as there was conflict over initial expectation on monetary gains, lack of requisite qualification for those expressing interest in tertiary education, clustering over certain courses based on their exposure in the region of their training, funds constraints as well as flexibility.
Other issues that appeared knotty was the quick demobilization and reintegration of the presidential supplementary list of 6,166 who were drafted into the programme in October 2010.
Story by Ayoola Ponmile (email - ayoolaponmile@gmail.com)
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