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Nigerian President Responds to Niger Delta Governors Pleas

   Kim Lewis 30 June 2010

   Nigeriaâs  president, Goodluck Jonathan, has responded positively to a
   request  from Niger Delta governors to spur development. At a meeting
   Wednesday,   the  president  said  he  will  direct  the  Niger  Delta
   Development  Commission to help carry out projects previously promised
   by (deceased) President (Umar) Yar'Adua.

   The  governors  asked  President Jonathan to fast-track development in
   the  region  and rehabilitate militants, who have laid down their arms
   under the amnesty program.

   The  meeting was held just as the government increased security in the
   oil-rich  area,  creating  what  the president calls an Anti-Terrorism
   Squad.

   VOA  reporter  Chinedu  Offor,  who is on assignment in Nigeria, says,
   âThe  governors  of  the  area  went to the president, who is from the
   Niger  Delta,  to  remind  him  of  the danger of not carrying out the
   governmentâs promises, and also to do something pretty quickly because
   some  of  the former militants are turning.  Some are taking to armed
   robbery  and  also  kidnapping,  and that is affecting security in the
   area.â

   The  governors  say  the presidentâs effort to improve security in the
   area will not solve long-term problems.

   âIf  the  militants  are  not given something to do or if they are not
   gainfully  employed, they might turn to crime,â says Offor.  He added
   that  itâs  important  to  do  something  about  President  YarAâduaâs
   promises  --  âthat  is  not just to rehabilitate the militants but to
   give  them some monthly stipends and take some of them abroad to train
   them.  For those who want to stay in Nigeria,â said Offor, âgive them
   jobs.â

   âOn  the  rehabilitation  of  militants, it was agreed that within the
   next six months, about 2,000â¦will be trained in batches, and they are
   hoping  to  get  a  total of about 20,000.  They are being trained in
   vocational  training  centers and education will be paid for up to the
   university level,â explained Offor.

   He  added  that  job  training  will  be  in  the oil services sector,
   business ownership, carpentry and mechanics.

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