…says Agip attack not militancy resurgence

By Daniel Idonor

ABUJA— As reactions continue to trail the blowing up of AGIP oil  pipeline in Bayelsa State on 0ctober 29, the Federal Government has said  it was poised to address the menace of oil bunkering and security at  the ports through the training of more coasts guards.

The government also said the attack on the Italian-owned oil and gas  concern, Agip, by unknown gun men was not another case of resurgence of  militancy in the Niger-Delta but an isolated case of criminality which  should be condemned by all.

According to the government, there is tremendous progress in the security of lives and properties in the Niger Delta at present.

The government said as a result of the amnesty programme, Nigeria was  now producing over two million barrels of crude oil a day, as against  the below 700,000 barrels per day production capacity before amnesty.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan  at the Inter-Ministerial/Inter-Agency Meeting on Human Capital  Development Master Plan for Amnesty Programme, made the disclosure,  saying more guards must be trained to reduce insecurity in the region.

“The incessant insecurity at our coasts is as a result of inadequate  coast guards who may give information and perfectly protect the coasts.  There is need to train more people as coast guards,” he said.