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FG Demobilises 13,000 Ex-Militants
The Federal Government has so far demobilised about 13,000 ex-militants after a successful training from Obubra camp in Cross River.
The chairman, Presidential Committee On Amnesty, Chief Timi Alaibi made this known in an interview with newsmen during an Award Night last Friday organised by Quantum Project Limited in Port Harcourt.
Alaibi who was represented by Mr Wilfred Mania, a director in the Amnesty Committee said that 38 of the demobilised ex-militants have been sent to South Africa for further training, while a number of others are being sent to Asia, Europe and America for various trainings.
Alaibi described the training process as on-going, adding that the trainings are in line with United Nations international standards.
Also speaking, a representative of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), Mr Larry Boms said that UNITA is the only UN agency that has its office in Port Harcourt.
This is in line with the agency’s desire to join forces with other organisations to eradicate poverty in the Niger Delta.
Boms used the occasion to thank the management of Quantum Project Limited for its commitment towards the eradication of poverty in the Niger Delta and assured of UN agency’s support to achieve the desired goals.
In her address, the Managing Director of Quantum Projects Limited, Mrs Josephine Itanyo, said the Eagles Award Night was organised annually to recognise emerging etnerpreneurs in the Niger Delta.
Mrs Itonyo explained that the programme was also to instill the spirit of entrepreneurship and self reliance among the people of the region.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government says the training of additional ex-militants under its post-amnesty programme has been shifted to June, 2011.
The extension, according to Mr Allen Onyema, chairman, Foundation for Ethnic Harmony in Nigeria (FEHN), was accommodate additional 6,166 trainees who recently embraced the amnesty programme.
FEHN is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) engaged by the Federal Government to conduct transformational training on non-violence for the repentant militants.
Onyema, however, told newsmen at the ex-militants rehabilitation camp at Obubra, Cross River State that his organisation would work hard to ensure that the June, 2011 deadline for the new trainees was realised.
Peace Annele