I'm in talks with Niger Delta militants, says Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has official­ly confirmed that his administration is dialoguing with Niger Delta militants, who have recently scaled up their attacks and destruction of oil facilities in the region.

The President disclosed that the negotiations were being handled by oil com­panies and law enforce­ment agencies on behalf of the Federal Government – to find a lasting solution to the insecurity and violence in the Niger Delta.

The militants, led by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), have bombed sever­al oil facilities in the region, resulting to a drastic drop in government’s revenue due to reduced crude oil exports, as well as shortages in gas sup­ply to power stations.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa during a farewell audience with Mr. Michael Zinner, the outgoing Ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, Buhari said he was studying the instruments of the Amnesty Programme he inherited from the immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan so as to implement the outstanding commitments.

Buhari said: “We under­stand their feelings. We are studying the instruments. We have to secure the environ­ment, otherwise investments will not come. We will do our best for the country.”

He used the opportunity to thank the government of Germany for its continuing support for Nigeria’s efforts to tackle insecurity and the on-going rehabilitation and re­settlement of displaced per­sons in the North East zone.

Buhari also thanked Ni­geria’s neighbours for their firm support for the war against terror.

Zinner stated that bilat­eral relations between Nige­ria and Germany “had im­proved significantly in the last 12 months of this admin­istration.”

He expressed the readi­ness of Germany to assist Ni­geria in the reconstruction of the North East and rehabili­tation of displaced persons so that they can return to their villages.

Zinner also expressed the eagerness of German busi­nesses to invest in the coun­try, now that “conditions for investment have been put in place” while reiterating the standing invitation of Chan­cellor Angela Merkel to Bu­hari to visit Germany.

SOURCE:AUTHORITY NEWSPAPER