Post-amnesty: Foreign Instructors Arrive
By Chinedu Eze, 06.26.2010

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Chief Timi Alaibe, has announced that the federal government has kicked off the post-amnesty programme with the training and rehabilitation of ex-militants and allayed fears that the youths from the region would be mobilized to cause havoc during the 2011 elections.


Alaibe disclosed this in Lagos when he arrived the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to welcome a team of trainers, Lafayette and Associates who would train the ex-militants to ensure that they do not go back to violence again.
He disclosed that the restructured programme would now take place at one centre at Obubra, Cross River State and would last for six months.


Aliabe who said that the federal government had earmarked N4 billion for the whole rehabilitation programme expressed optimism at the eventual outcome of the programme and told newsmen that in the next six to 20 months, many ex-militants, who laid down their arms, would be rehabilitated.
He said that the rehabilitation of the militants and training in the strategy of non-violence and conflict reconciliation, will commence in batches of 2, 000 for two weeks.


Aliabe said the training team would train the militants to train other militants and this will make the process flow faster.
“The programme will run for two weeks with a one week intermission (Post-mortem), this will be in form of biometrics, wellness tests, guidance and counseling, peace and conflict resolution classes.”


“Make no mistakes Federal Government is committed to ensure that even the non-violent youths in the Niger Delta are addressed in this system.” Team leader of the Centre for Non Violence and Peace Studies, University of Rhodes Island, Dr. Bernard Lafayette, was grateful to the Nigerian government for giving his team the opportunity to help instill change in the Niger Delta just as he has done in countless other places. The team comprise twenty-six Americans and four South Africans.