… 7,000 ex-militants to go in Dec
From Chidi Nnadi, Enugu
THE Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul T. Boro, yesterday in Enugu announced the Federal Government would save over N5 billion at the end of the year as 7,000 delegates will complete their programme.
Gen. Boro disclosed this as he visited the Innoson Kiara Academy, Emene, Enugu, where 200 Ex-agitators of the Niger Delta are currently undergoing training as plastic injections technicians.
The coordinator, who was received at the academy by the Chairman of Innoson Group and Chancellor of the Imo State University, Dr Innocent Chukwuma, and the Chief Executive Officer of the academy, Mr Endi Ezegwa, said the amnesty programme is expensive that the government had to partner with some foreign organisations like the UNDP.
He pointed out that Innoson Kiara programme is an excellent one, saying, “I particularly ensured that 200 of the ex-agitators came to learn about how to maintain automobiles and how to establish automobile factories as well as plastic factories.
“I did that because when I was in Sierra Leone, amongst other companies that were non-existent was the plastic company that was run by a Lebanese. It was running for 24 hours; the plastic factory was manufacturing plastic slippers.
He added: “I have been thinking of such a programme. So, when the proposal was brought to my office, I immediately ensured that I keyed into it and generated 200 persons from Niger Delta Amnesty programme to come and benefit.
“That is why I am very happy to be here and I am happier to learn that they are learning very well and that they are willing to establish their own factories after.”
He assured that the amnesty programme was succeeding greatly, adding that it was the more reason the other arms-bearing youths are willing to disarm. “All the way from Niger Delta, there are youths that are willing to disarm,” he said, pointing out that if the former militants put in their best to learn professionally, they too could make it in life.
Earlier, the CEO of Innoson Kiara Academy, Mr Ezengwa assured the academy will be used to replicate the success story of Chief Chukwuma who grew from grass to grace.
He disclosed that the ex-militants would return home at the end of their training in the academy to put into practice what they learnt.
According to him, the delegates who came into the school last October would leave after nine months, disclosing that 500 ex-militants were posted to Innoson Kiara Academy, 200 to the Emene Plastic Factory and 300 were posted to the Nnewi, Anambra State Automobile company.