President Buhari Confirms Talks with Niger Delta Militants

President Buhari Confirms Talks with Niger Delta Militants

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, said that the federal government is currently engaging the Niger Delta militants in dialogue aimed at bringing an end to pipeline vandalism and violence being experienced in the region.

This was confirmed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, to the farewell audience at the outgoing ceremony for the Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Zinner, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to Shehu, President Buhari, who has asked that the amnesty programme of the previous administration be revisited, sanctioned the talks through oil companies and law-enforcement agencies, according to Vanguard.

“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,” the President was quoted as saying.

The President then thanked the German government for its continuing support to Nigeria in the efforts to tackle insecurity and the ongoing rehabilitation work in the crisis-ridden northeastern part of the country.

In his remarks, the outgoing German Ambassador, who reiterated the invitation of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to President Buhari to visit the country, noted that bilateral relations between Nigeria and Germany “had improved very much in the last 12 months of this administration.”

He stated that the German government was ready to assist Nigeria in the rehabilitation process in the North East to help displaced persons return to their homes, in addition to bringing in German businesses to invest in the country, now that “conditions for investment have been put in place”.