The Nigerian government's campaign to provide 20,000 ex-militants with reorientation training and further skills development could usher in a "new dawn" of prosperity in the Niger Delta region and across the country.

Such is the claim of This Day, which has commended the government for its commitment to the training programme in an editorial published today (July 8th) as the scheme gets underway in Rivers State.

Rebel groups were promised training and a living allowance as part of an amnesty agreed in November last year, and This Day stressed that while delays in the training schedule have caused consternation, the Nigerian government now has a firm opportunity to transform the region.

"The nation looks forward to a new dawn not only in the region, but indeed the entire country where peace and tranquillity not only reigns, but promotes developmental activities," the Nigerian daily paper commented.

Since the amnesty, oil production in the country has increased significantly, after falling by more than half during a campaign of attacks on foreign-owned oil pipelines.

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