Senate begins probe of N330b Amnesty programme

The Senate on Thursday began investigation into the alleged mismanagement of the Presidential Amnesty Programme from 2009 till date.
The project is said to be worth over N330 billion.
The Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, at the resumption investigative hearing lamented that the objectives of Presidential Amnesty Programme have been compromised.
Nwaoboshi lamented ‎that restiveness has returned to the Niger Delta and even many of their youths have gone back to the creeks.
He said: “Yes, until recently, because from media reports it does appear that the objectives of the amnesty programme have been compromised and failing to actualize those lofty goals. ‎
“As we speak, restiveness has returned back to the country without completing their training.
“The trained ones cannot find employment.
“Companies are leaving the region.
“Pipelines and other strategic national infrastructure are being destroyed and the national crude oil output drastically reduced.
“If we take into account the crashed price of crude oil in international market, we would then appreciate the impact of these on the Nigerian economy.”
Also at the hearing, a Niger Delta Leader, Chief Jombo Jasper, vowed to create another trouble in the region if he is not paid N2 billion owed him by Niger Delta Development Commission.
Jombo said the development of the NDDC master plan cannot solve the problem of the region.
He also added that one-quarter of the ‎fund used to militarize the Niger Delta is enough for the development of the region if the President Muhammadu Buhari gets the right people in the region.