Lagos (Platts)--14Sep2009/643 am EDT/1043 GMT

The president of a youth organization in the oil-rich Niger Delta warned Monday that the Nigerian government's amnesty program was not being handled properly and would fail to halt violence in the region if it did not address core issues there.

The amnesty deal offered to militants who give up their weapons and renounce violence ends October 4.

"I am afraid the [amnesty] program is not being handled properly, and we already have militants who have come to lay down their weapons saying they are going back to the creeks to cause more havoc," Chris Ekiyor, president of the ethnic Ijaw Youths Congress, said on a live program aired by a Lagos-based private television channel.

"Government launched the amnesty program without thinking of how to rehabilitate the militants being disarmed and addressing the developmental needs of the region," Ekiyor said.

The IYC is a political wing for youth in the Niger Delta, engaging in organizing peaceful protest against the widespread poverty and the government's neglect of the region where the bulk of Nigeria's oil is produced.

According to the group's leader, with three weeks to the expiration of the amnesty program, the Nigerian government was only concerned with achieving its objective of mopping up arms and ammunition from the militants and not with tackling the core reasons for the unrest in the region.

The Nigerian government, however, said the program was making progress and that the government was also focused on offering jobs, training and education to militants taking part in the amnesty.

Michael Eyo, coordinator of the government committee on amnesty in southern Akwa Ibom state, said 15 militants have surrendered their weapons in the state, while 300 others have indicated a willingness to surrender their weapons and embrace the amnesty offer, the state news agency reported Monday.

"The Federal Government is ready to train militants in various skills, crafts or trades and will offer scholarships to those who want to study. Government is also ready to create job opportunities for them, while some others will be sent to learn trades," NAN quoted Eyo as saying.

"I want to believe that before the deadline given by the Federal government, the militants will come out of the creeks," he added.

Efforts are also under way to talk wit two key militant leaders who have so far not taken up the amnesty offer. Local media reported on Monday that Nigeria has initiated moves to open talks with Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, and Ateke Tom, to ensure the success of the amnesty program.

A government team led by the defense minister, Godwin Abbe, has headed for the creeks to hold negotiations with the militants, the Independent newspaper reported.