Nigerian President Friday formally received the first set of 32 Niger Delta militants who have surrendered their arms under an amnesty he offered them in June and commended them for their "patriotism".
"This is the opportunity to give good life to the youth of Bayelsa State and the Niger Delta area that can boast of youth who can contribute to the nation-building," he said at the ceremony in the banquet hall of the State House.
"(The) government is concerned about development in the Niger Delta but we cannot do it in the midst of crisis. Thank you for the courage and patriotism in laying down your arms," he said.
Yar'Adua had last June 25 declared an unconditional amnesty for all militants who lay down their arms.
In response, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), which claims to be fighting for a larger share of the oil revenues for the impoverished Niger Delta communities, last month declared a 60-day ceasefire.
The government on Thursday began implementing the amnesty deal in an effort to end crippling attacks on the oil industry and revive the country's battered crude production.
The militants are expected to turn in their arms in designated centres where militants could register for reintegration programmes before the amnesty expires on October 4.
Friday's ceremony was also attended by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan and some other top government officials.
Yar'Adua promised that issues of concern would be tackled to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned.
"The development in the Niger Delta will be rapid, but it will take time," he stated.
A senior member of MEND who spoke for the group, Victor Ben Ebikabowe, otherwise known as 'Boyloaf' said: "Government... has made a step forward by granting amnesty and releasing Henry Okah."
The government, as part of the amnesty deal, released and dropped all treason charges against Okah, a leader of MEND, the region's best organised armed group.
"On our part...we hereby declare and agree to lay down our arms for this administration to immediately commence the other part of the bargain," Ebikabowe said.
Attacks by armed groups on oil facilities in the Niger Delta cost hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude a day. Hundreds of oil workers have been kidnapped, and monthly oil revenue this year dropped to around one billion dollars from an average of 2.2 billion dollars in 2008.
I go gladly join u. me na Militantress 
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