President Mohammadu Buhari on Monday said that his government will not totally discard the amnesty programme for Niger-Delta region but will build on the good aspects of the Programme.
This is even as he assured both foreign and local investors of his readiness to implement far-reaching reforms which he said will boost accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Buhari spoke at a meeting with senior officials of Chevron led by the company’s President for Africa and Latin America, Mr. Ali Moshiri at the presidential villa, Abuja.
The president also promised to effectively address the myriad of challenges in the sector.
“We understand the situation in the industry and we will do our best to address the challenges affecting exploration, production and distribution of oil products in the country,’’ the President told the delegation.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu stated that president Buhari acknowledged that the Amnesty Programme was initiated by President Umar Yar’Adua to reduce violence in the Niger Delta region.
The statement added that “his administration will also implement other measures to enhance security in the Niger Delta and optimize investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.”
Speaking earlier, chevron president, Moshori urged President Buhari to restore the confidence of international investors in the industry even as he “identified improved security in the Niger Delta as key to increased investment in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.”
According to him, “Chevron which has 36.7 percent interest in the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited, was keen to support Nigeria’s gas sector and bring more electricity to Nigerian consumers.”
