"Destroying national assets out of anger is unjust," National Orientation boss tells militants

Mr Garba Abari, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Niger Delta militants to have a rethink on their nefarious activities and be patriotic in developing the country.

Abari made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

According to him, any part of Nigeria that is degraded, and any inch of the country’s soil that is spoilt as a result of unwholesome activities of the militants is a lost to Nigerians.

``My message is for all of them that are exhibiting this kind of behaviour to have a rethink that all of us might not be happy with the way things are going.

``We may be angry; but the best way to go is not to go about destroying national assets.

``The culture of destroying national assets simply because we are angry or because things did not go our way, must be jettisoned; it must be stopped and allow for dialogue.

``Dialogue is the best way out; bringing out all the issues on the table and laying them out so that we find a meaningful way of addressing them,’’ Abari said.

On the de-radicalisation of Boko Haram members, the NOA boss said it was something that should be taken hook line and sinker from all perspective.

``What we will be aiming at is the rebuilding of not only the infrastructure, but the psychic, and the psychology of the human person.

``This can be done through the inculcation of changing the narrative that makes the miscreants to hold society to ransom as what we are seeing today,’’ he said.

On the exchange of visits by traditional rulers from one part of the country to another, he said it was an ongoing tradition that would enhance integration and national unity.

``It will also help in bridging the gap between our different traditions, cultures and prospects.’’