Chairman Board of Trustees Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Producing Areas (CDC), Joseph Ambakederimo, has called on the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to consider integrating operators of unlicensed refineries and pipeline vandals into the Amnesty Programme.
According to the group, the initiative aims to provide these individuals with alternative livelihoods and educational opportunities.
Ambakederimo, who is also the Convener South South Reawakening Group (SSRG), made this call in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday.
The group stated that many of the operators of unlicensed refineries and pipeline vandals have expressed a desire for skills training in areas such as steel fabrication and metallurgy, which could contribute significantly to national development.
“The issues around calling for the expansion of the programme would be in addition to begin further engagements in collaboration with the Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Producing Areas (CDC) and operators of the unlicensed refineries and pipeline vandals taking it from where the Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Producing Areas (CDC) has achieved with a view to bringing them under the Presidential Amnesty Programme fold and provide alternative incentives to make them look away and have a new lease of lives,” the group stated.
The Group added that; “the CDC has made very important gains chiefly amongst which is identifying and putting a face to unlicensed refineries operators in the region and the willingness of the operators to come out of the creeks and engage in meaningful talks that will eventually turn their lives and livelihoods for the better and for the good of the society.”
They also called for increased financial support to expand the programme’s mandate, which they argue is essential for addressing pressing regional challenges.
The group further commended Dr. Dennis Otuaru, Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, for actively engaging with stakeholders and local communities, noting that this proactive approach aims to strengthen cooperation, build trust, and connect the people with ongoing initiatives within the Amnesty Programmr.
They emphasized the importance of the transformative engagements by Dr Otuaro, noting that it could pave the way for long-term partnerships that could drive growth across various sectors.
While also calling for increased financial support to expand the programme’s mandate, which they pointed out is essential for addressing pressing regional challenges, they also stressed the critical need for sustained funding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, stressing that the livelihoods and security of the nation depend on its success.
“The Presidential Amnesty Programme coordinator, Dr Dennis Otuaru’s continued engagement with stakeholders and people of the region is very well articulated and a forward looking strategy in problem solving.
“We applaud the continued transformative stakeholders engagements in the region, bringing the people to speed with happening in the Presidential Amnesty Programme is key, it strengthens cooperation and build trust.
“The meetings and engagements undertaken by the leadership of the amnesty programme hold great potential to build strong, long-term partnerships that will not only connect people of the region but drives sustainable growth across multiple strata.
“It is delighted to note that we now have a leadership that is purposeful, responsive, and people – serving that can’t be over emphasised, again we urge our leaders at all strata of society and all sectors in the region including the Governors in the region to reinvent themselves and lead with a servant leader mindset, and lead with selflessness and dignity in the mould of Dr. Dennis Otuaru.
“We will continue to make this case because the present leadership has shown undiluted capacity that needed to be encouraged and supported in all it’s ramifications,” the group added.