By Kenneth Ehigiator

ABUJA-The Federal Government, said, Thursday, that only 30 per cent offshore training for former militants in the Niger Delta would be accommodated in its post-amnesty programme for next year, while the remaining 70 per cent would be done locally, to save cost.

It also expressed satisfaction that 20,192 former militants had gone through demobilisation at the Obubra Integration Camp in Cross River State without a single shot being fired.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, said it was possible to rise to the top in the country without resort to violence, in apparent reference to the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as the president of the country.

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, who spoke to newsmen on the adjustment of training for former militants as 50 more left the country for pipeline welding training in Malaysia, said 60 per cent offshore and 40 percent local training was provided for in the current financial year.

He added that the training centres in Rivers and Delta states had been upgraded to effectively train the former militants, adding that the training of the former militants locally would save the country money.

Kuku foreclosed extension of the amnesty programme, saying it was only the President that can extend the programme.

Meanwhile, Nwuche, has said Nigeria had developed to the level that any Nigerian could attain any position in the leadership of the country without resort to violence, and described the journey of the former militants as part of the achievements of President Jonathan’s first hundred days in office.

According to him, the emergence of Jonathan as President of the country had given more impetus to the amnesty programme.

He advised the beneficiaries to take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the training to contribute meaningfully to the development of the Niger Delta and country in general, while also urging those going to Malaysia to be good ambassadors of the country.

Speaking at the pre-departure briefing for the former militants, Malaysian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nick Mustapha Kamal, described the training in his country as a good demonstration of the collaboration between Nigeria and Malaysia.