The Federal Government has been advised to accommodate operators of the unlicenced refineries in its Amnesty Programme to stem the tide of increasing oil theft in the Niger Delta region.

The Chairman, Board of Director, Community Development Committee (CDC) and Convener, South South Reawakening Group, Joseph Ambakederimo, who gave the advice, on Friday, in Effurun, Delta State, said once this is done, operators of the unlicenced refineries would be ready and willing to give up the trade and work with the government to make crude oil safe in the region.

Speaking on the theme, ‘Niger Delta Trajectory, Presidential Amnesty Programme to the Rescue and Rebirth for Entrepreneurship Pursuit in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda and Dennis Otuaru Transformation Leadership Enigma in Focus’, the chairman said that many youngsters were being recruited into becoming operators of unlicenced refineries.

He welcomed the recent pronouncement by the Presidential Amnesty Programme to offer more scholarships to young people in the region, saying it would likely make recruitment of young people into the business of pipeline vandalism and other vices a thing of the past.

“Information at our disposal is that many youngsters are being recruited into becoming operators of unlicenced refineries. So, the government must do more to redirect the narrative now that the Community Development Committees of Niger Delta Oil and Gas (CDC) is willing to collaborate with the Presidential Amnesty Office to continue the CDC’s ongoing engagement with the operators of the unlicensed refineries and pipeline vandals to embrace dialogue that will enhance their own economic well-being and that of the country,” he said.

He commended the National Security Adviser, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, whose office superintends the Presidential Amnesty Office, for instituting a special security architecture for the Niger Delta region.