Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua (file photo)
Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua has declared the conflict thatplagued the oil producing Niger Delta has ended after a recent amnestyfor rebels in the region that he called successful. The overall security situation remains fragile.

Nigeria'spresident, Umaru Yar'Adua, told a visiting OPEC delegation that Nigeriacan now meet its current production quota of 1.8 million barrels perday. At peak production levels, the country can pump around2.6 million barrels per day.

Mr. Yar'Adua reassured OPECofficials that attacks on the oil industry that sharply reducedNigerian oil output have subsided, thanks to the amnesty program.

"Ourproblem is over," he said. "The agitations and the militancy arisingfrom the oil and gas industry is over, and now I think that thesituation is back to normal and within six months, maximum, it will bepart of our history."

The violence has subsidized in recentmonths, but industry analysts caution it is too early to say if thesecurity situation in the oil producing region has improved. The U.S.Embassy is urging restraint and dialogue in resolving outstandingissues relating to the amnesty.

The amnesty program brought inmore than 8,000 militants - the government says the final figure couldbe more than 15,000. But the peace process has been called a sham bythe main militant group.

The amnesty granted immunity fromprosecution to any militant who renounced violence before October 4. The chief amnesty coordinator, Air Vice Marshall LuckyArarile, says tough action will be taken against militants stilloperating in the region.

"You are not supposed to carry arms,"he said. "As from fourth of October, any person that bears armsillegally and is seen or caught will be dealt with according to thelaw."

Since the 1970s, Nigeria has pumped more than $300 billionworth of crude from the southern delta states, according to estimates. But high unemployment, environmental degradation due to oil and gasexploitation, and a lack of basic resources such as fresh water andelectricity have angered some of the region's youth and incited them totake up arms.

The government says the amnesty is the first stepto bring peace to the region, but skeptics question whether the amnestywill bring an end to the violence, saying the government has done verylittle to create employment or training opportunities for those whohanded over their guns.