THE Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Co-ordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier-General Paul Boroh (Rtd), has identified unemployment as a critical factor in the Niger Delta crisis, saying that one of the major causes of the crisis in the region is the high level unemployment of their youths.
To this end, he said the Presidential Amnesty programme has focussed on job creation through agriculture for the ex-agitators and other youths in the area.
Already he said the Amnesty programme has started the process of training 500 ex-agitators in modern techniques of agriculture through collaboration with the Bio-Resource Development Centre.
“I have also spoken to traditional rulers and local government as well as community leaders to help in the provision of land we will give to the ex-agitators and the youths. This is not just for ex-agitators alone, we are including the youths because unemployment is one of the major causes of what we are experiencing in Niger Delta. The problem is all over Nigeria, not just the Niger Delta I feel very concern about it.”
Boroh stated that the first batch of the 500 ex-agitators have already commence training at the centre, adding that they will all be trained and provided with starter packs and land at the end of their training.
According to him, “on our part, looking inwards, we have collaborated with the Bio-Resource Development Centre. It is modern scientific research institute for agricultural development. We have spoken to them, and have started training of ex- agitators.
“They have to train 500 ex-agitators in Agric development. We have started the training with 100 and next week, the next batch of 100 will start training. It is not just training, it is training and empowerment. They will be given one month theoretical training on how best to come up with greater yields in agricultural endeavour. Agriculture is a practical thing, and the following month, they will start deploring them and give them starter packs. Those going into fish farming will have their land space. The government, through the Amnesty Office will empower them to be on their own.”
He pointed out that in line with the policy trust of the present administration to look at the alternative ways to revamp the economy; the programme is focussing on agriculture since the Niger Delta area does not have much of solid minerals.
He explained the Presidential Amnesty Programme already have those who are ready to support it in achieving the agricultural alternative in revamping the economy of the country.
He said he had already discussed with a group from United Kingdom, and Vietnam who came to discuss how they can partner with his office towards achieving the efforts on agriculture.
“We had meetings with them, all they are asking for is provision of land space and on my part I have written to all the governors of Niger Delta, the nine governors to provide 10,000 acres each to allow interest groups that want to support the programme in deploring delegates for agriculture.”
Boroh, made reference to his growing up, and how he had been lucky to be fully engaged as a young man throughout, but wondered why a young person should not be engaged five years after his degree.
He said: “The problem is all over Nigeria, not just the Niger Delta. I feel very concern about it. When I was at the age of these youths, my case was special, I attended a military school, government school, and from government school to the Defence Academic. I was commissioned and I have been in the military since. So I never had any space where I was not engaged.
“It is completely different from someone telling me he has not worked since after his degree five years ago. I cannot comprehend it because I never experienced such life style.”
Boroh added, “I am concern and passionate about those who have skills, whether vocational skill or educational skill and are not engaged, they are not employed. I am very worried.
“I want people in a particular environment to be captured in this agric drive. An acre of land given to one person can employ four persons to work on that land and the products would be increased if they use the process they learnt at the Bio Resource Development Centre. They teach them how to increase their products in agriculture. On an acre of land, a lot can happen in terms of job creation.”
However, he pointed out that the challenge is the provision of land space by the state and local government, traditional rulers and the community leaders in the South-South, especially in the two states under the programme in the South-East, Imo and Abia states.
In as much as the efforts would create jogs and wealth, he lamented that it has been very difficult to get the required land because land is a very critical resource in the area.