Former Niger Delta militants will soon undergo training in agriculture so as to boost the country’s economy, the Federal Government has said.
According to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Mr Paul Boro, about 500 ex-militants will undergo the training in agriculture and aquaculture under the amnesty programme.
Mr Boro made this known shortly after his visit to Bio-resources Development Centre (BIODEC), Odi in Bayelsa.
He said the would-be trainees were selected from Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.
The President’s aide further said the training would create jobs and wealth for the youth, especially now that the country sought to diversify the economy.
According to him, 18 other ex-militants had acquired skills in aquaculture under the programme.
Mr Boro, who is also the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, said he took a tour of the centre to monitor the progress of staff and livestock in the centre.
“The amnesty office is committed to training youths to become productive in the area of agriculture and aquaculture.
“We will encourage them to plan their future, study and appreciate the value of knowledge in the modern society,” he said.
He promised that loans would be made available to the beneficiaries to enable them to establish businesses after the training.
Adedapo Adesanya