Presidency won’t shut door on dialogue with militants

The Presidency said last night that dialogue with Niger Delta militants is not foreclosed. Attacks on oil facilities have affected production and the country’s earnings.

 This year’s budget has taken some bashing — no thanks to the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), a group of militants.

 Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina spoke on the slow pace of the budget implementation and the dialogue option in a Channels Television phone-in programme.

According to him, the dwindling revenue from sale of crude oil, among other factors, is hindering smooth implementation of the budget.

He noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had never been opposed to dialogue with the militants.