Date Published: 10/15/09

No Military Action in Niger Delta -FG

The attention of the Federal Government has been drawn to false propaganda being propagated by one Daniel VOLMAN, Director of African Security Research Project in Washington DC, capable of undermining the peace recorded by implementation of the Amnesty programme in the Niger Delta.  The false report creates erroneous impression that government is planning military action in the Niger Delta even when the Amnesty programme has been successfully implemented with full cooperation of all the militants and their leaders in the region.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is using this medium to state that the Amnesty programme has remained a huge success and has been applauded by all Nigerians.  There is therefore no basis for any kind of military offensive in the region where peace now reigns supreme.  Government sees this false report as diversionary, misleading and an attempt to incite the good people of Niger Delta against constituted authority.  Government reassures all peace loving people of Niger Delta and Nigerians that the return of peace in the Niger Delta is appreciated and will do everything humanly possible to reciprocate the gesture in the region by pursuing vigorously the reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation programmes as part of the amnesty programme.

Under the arrangement, development of the region through relevant government agencies at all levels and tiers of government will soon commence.  Government views the success of Amnesty programme without the use of force as a demonstration of the resilient - Nigerian spirit to resolve domestic problems without external influence.  The Federal Government duly recognises and appreciates that the universal acceptance of this amnesty is an eloquent testimony of the high level of confidence and trust that stakeholders in the Niger Delta have on the leadership of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Government appeals to the international community to join hands with her in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the region, and ignore any insinuations that create the impression that violence still exist in the region.

Signed:

PROF. DORA AKUNYILI

Honourable Minister of Information & Communications