President Muhammadu Buhari has admitted that the federal government was in
dialogue with the militants who have been bombing oil installations in the
country.
Buhari made the assertion when he received the outgoing Ambassador of
Germany to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said the talks were aimed at halting attacks on oil installations and
restore increased oil output.
He, however, noted that the negotiation was through oil companies and
security agencies.
He said government was looking at the details of the amnesty programme
inherited from the last administration.
“we understand their feelings; we are studying the instruments. We have to
secure the environment, otherwise investment will not come. We will do our
best for the country”, he said.
The militants had recently increased the tempo of attacks on oil and gas
installations forcing oil companies to declare force majeure and evacuate
staff, reducing significantly the nation’s oil output.
The attacks followed deployment of the military in the region by the
Buhari-led government.
Environmental degradation of the Niger Delta region for decades by oil
exploration activities has been at the core of the bombing campaign of oil
installations by militants.