United Nations To Rehabilitate Niger/Delta Militants
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...By Tayo Adelaja
Published: February 9, 2010
United Nations To Rehabilitate Niger/Delta Militants
Adetayo Adelaja
The United Nations Development Programme will help rehabilitate former Nigerian militants in the country’s oil-rich Niger Delta. Wirba Alidu, the project coordinator for the UN Office for Project Services in Nigeria, told news agency Reuters yesterday that the project will educate former gunmen and provide them with job opportunities. The five million US dollar pilot project is expected to start in the next few months, with additional support from Nigeria’s Delta State government and oil company Royal Dutch Shell. Thousands of militants surrendered last year as part of President Umaru Yar’Adua’s amnesty programme in return for the promise of clemency, monthly stipends, vocational training, jobs and investment. However, the education and training programmes had stalled. It is feared frustration at the delay could lead to renewed attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the region.
