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| President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan |
As a result of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, President Goodluck Jonathan said in Lagos yesterday that Oil exploration and peace increased in the Niger-Delta region, which in turn revived the economy.
He said this while being represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo at a public presentation of a book written by Hon. Kingsley Kuku, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, titled: "Remaking of the Niger Delta: Challenges and Opportunities", he also pledged to sustain the programme till all the militants are fully integrated.
While extolling Kuku for working assiduously to ensure the Niger Delta wears a new look, he noted that militancy in the region crippled the nation's economy in 2009 by robbing the country of about N3 trillion in revenue, recalling that reserves were low and foreign investments was also poor coupled with staggering insecurity issues.
Noting that since the late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua granted the militants amnesty, about 23,580 ex-agitators have been enlisted in the amnesty programme, about 13,078 have been trained in various profession and vocation, expressing delight that the programme has brought peace to the region.
Urging the youths to imbibe and maintain the values of discipline to keep the peace intact, he commended the late President Yar'Adua for initiating the programme.
Making reference to his own background, he told the youths, they don't have to be born of rich parents to become somebody in life, saying he would partner with all Nigerian youths because as leaders of tomorrow they have a big role to play in changing the way things are been done in this country, adding that the Federal Government would also partner the state governments to create jobs for the youths.
(Edited by: Blueblock)
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