No 3rd phase in post-amnesty programme – Jonathan

By  Kenneth Ehigiator

President Goodluck Jonathan, weekend, insisted that there would be no third phase in the ongoing post-amnesty programme.

This came as another set of 214 ex-militants departed the shores of the country for vocational training in India.

The President’s insistence came against the backdrop of last Wednesday’s blockade of Abuja-Lokoja expressway by hundreds of Niger Delta ex-militants protesting exclusion from the amnesty programme.

Speaking through his Special Adviser  on Niger Delta Matters, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, at the pre-departure briefing of 214 ex-militants, the President said the final window given for disarmanent closed since October 4, 2009, when the timeline for disarmament programme expired.

He said youths  clamouring for another phase of the programme should explore other avenues to seek employment and empowerment as there would be no further phase of the amnesty programme.