Tribune / Nigeria: The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, urged the Niger Delta Avengers to give peace a chance and embrace dialogue with Federal Government.
The House also urged the lawmakers to discontinue the bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta region.
It also urged the Federal Government to formulate a sustainable plan to end militancy rather than the confrontational approaches so far adopted.
The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Honourable Ekpenyong Ayi and 30 others, entitled: “Need for an improved funding for the amnesty programme and a suitable strategic plan end militancy in the Niger Delta.”
The lawmaker, while moving the motion on behalf of others, noted that the administration of late President Umaru Yar’Adua introduced the amnesty programme which led to higher oil revenues for the country.
He, however, expressed worry that N20 billion proposed by the Federal Government was inadequate to sustain the payment of stipends of N25,000 to ex-agitators, their training allowances, tuition fees and other commitments.
According to him, “the incessant attacks on oil facilities has led to Nigeria losing its place as Africa’s largest oil producer because it’s oil output has fallen to a 22-year low of 1.4 million barrels per day against the budgetary target of 2.2 million barrel per day.
He noted that the attacks had negatively impacted on electricity output in the form of thermal power stations that are reliant on gas to power the turbines.
