The Federal Government has called on all aggrieved parties, including militants in the creeks to drop their weapons and come forward for dialogue.

The government has also agreed to hand over the responsibility of securing the crude oil pipelines in the Niger Delta to indigenes of the various communities.

Leadership reports that the spokesman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Garba Deen Muhammad, told newsmen that the government also promised to work with stakeholders in the Niger Delta region to ensure security and economic development of the area.

Dr Ibe Kachikwu, the minister of state for petroleum, who spoke to news men after a meeting with stakeholders from the Niger Delta region, said  “all the states in the region would nominate four or five representatives that would work hand-in-hand with security agencies to secure oil facilities in their respective states.”

He also said “The Niger Delta governors must be involved in providing lasting solutions to the resurgence of pipeline vandalism and there is urgent need to create business opportunities for the locals in the region.”

The minister also assured the stakeholders that the Amnesty Program will be re-organised to ensure that the agitations of the Niger Delta people are met.

A new militant group the Niger Delta Avengers has been blowing up offshore facilities belonging to major oil companies in the Niger-Delta.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also accused Kachikwu of giving $10m as bribe to representatives of the group.

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