Nigeria says at least 10,000 militants to get Amnesty

LAGOS, July 18 - Up to 10, 000 militants in

the troubled oil rich Niger Delta could benefit from the amnesty offered by the

Nigerian federal government which is aimed at ending the crisis in the region,

the Lagos-based This Day newspaper reported on Saturday.

Lucky Ararile, the chief coordinator of the Amnesty

Implementation Committee, told a press conference on Friday in Abuja, that the

Nigerian federal government has budgeted 200 million naira to feed the targeted

10,000 militants that will turn up to lay down their arms at the 50 to 60 camps

spread across the six Niger Delta states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Ondo

and Rivers.

"Each militant will receive an allowance of 20,000

naira per month in addition to 1,500 naira per day for food while at a

reintegration center," he said.

"Disarmament and demobilization, part of the program,

will last for 60 days thereafter. The reintegration program is indeterminate,"

Ararile added.

According to him, a few militants have already

surrendered their arms but declined to give a specific figure.

He said apart from those who will be made to

undergo skill acquisition programs, whoever wants to further in education will

equally be sponsored and helped to secure jobs at the multinational oil

companies upon conclusion of program.

The amnesty coordinator said the Nigerian federal

government is committed to the task of ensuring peace in the Niger Delta,

calling on militants to explore the avenue to be integrated into the society.

He added that the enthusiasm shown by the militants

to the Nigerian federal government's olive branch has been very massive, noting

that the government is prepared to absolve all militants that surrender their

arms of crimes they committed.