The Federal Government has resumed cash payments to repentant militants in the restive Niger Delta, in a calculated bid to end the wave of militant attacks on oil and gas facilities. It had, in February, stopped the payments to former militants who had agreed, under a 2009 amnesty programme, to stop bombing crude oil pipelines in exchange for cash, Reuters quoted a government official as saying.

In response, the Federal Government said it had been holding talks with militants they suspect of being behind a recent wave of attacks on pipelines that has reduced Nigeria’s crude output by 700,000 barrels a day.

“Payments of stipends to the ex-militants resumed this Monday. The payments are done directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria to their bank accounts. The payment also includes tuition for those studying abroad. Their last payment was in February this year. Now we are clearing all outstanding payments,” said the Amnesty Programme’s Media Officer, Piriye Kiyaramo.

Each of the former militants is entitled, under the amnesty decree to N65,000 ($203.44) monthly plus job training. But the Federal Government had originally planned to cut the amnesty by two-thirds and limit cash payments, amid a budget crisis and graft.

Source: http://allafrica.com