Group wants FG to extend amnesty to onshore oil bearing communities

By Gabriel Enogholase
BENIN—The Isoko Consultative Forum (I.C.F) of Delta State has called on the Federal Government to extend its Amnesty programme to on-shore oil producing communities to enable their youths from the areas benefit from the proposed training under the programme.

The forum in a communiqué issued at the end of its emergency meeting during the weekend, and signed by Senator Francis Okpozo and Mr. Anthony Osauzo, Chairman and Secretary respectively, faulted the scope of the amnesty programme, insisting that the Federal Government has given the impression that only those who blow-up pipelines, kill people and disrupt oil production deserve attention in the country.

“For the sake of emphasis, the Federal Government should remember that on-shore oil production, particularly from Isoko land has kept the nation’s economy going from the era of the Nigerian Civil War till the present day when activities of militants gave often cause disruptions in Nigeria’s oil supply to the international market”.

“We therefore, warn that the Federal Government should not by his discriminatory and selective approach to the Niger-Delta problem create a situation whereby there will be insurgence or new wave of militants in the on-shore oil producing areas of the country in future,” the communique said.

It noted that a holistic approach was required for a lasting solution to the Niger-Delta crisis.
“As a matter of urgency, the forum called on the Federal Government to direct the Amnesty Committee to extend this pro gramme to the On-shore Oil producing area’s so that the people in this area will benefit from the programme”.

“There is a feeling among the people of the On-shore Oil producing areas now that peaceful disposition offer’s no incentives, but only violence does”, the forum further said.

“We must not do anything to promote this kind of perception in the country and therefore, the Federal Government should take urgent steps to reward the On-shore Oil producing communities for their peace disposition that has enabled uninterrupted oil production which has sustain the Nation’s economy”, it advised.