Kachikwu made the appeal while briefing newsmen, Monday, in Abuja.
The appeal by Kachikwu comes as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the deadly attack by the Boko Haram terrorist group on a military base in Bosso in Niger State.
“My first appeal will be to my brothers who are engaged in these acts of protest to sheathe their swords and daggers and come back to the table so that we can have a conversation.
“There is no doubt that over the decades of oil production, a lot of things that ought to have been done in the oil geographical areas were not done.
“The answer to the issue will not be heating up the grounds. The Federal Government is committed to continue the dialogue and the president has appointed a team,’’ he said.
According to him, the team will be led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), the minister, opinion leaders and all the service chiefs.
He noted that the dialogue was expected to wrap up in one week, adding that the NSA had been directed to work with the armed forces to de-skill the intensity of operation to ensure the dialogue held.
“Probably, we will suspend the operation of the military in the region for a week or two for individuals in the creeks to converge for the dialogue,’’ he added.
Kachikwu said that government had made contacts with all the people involved, especially those that could be identified
He expressed the hope that through dialogue, everything would soon be resolved, adding that it was always difficult when arms were used against citizens.
He urged the militants to allow the truth reign and gave an assurance that the Federal Government was ready to intensify efforts to ensure development in the region.
On oil production level, he said that the level was still between 1.5 million and 1.6 million barrels per day down from 2.2 million barrels on which the budget was based.
He said government would continue to work hard to enhance the production level.
He added that over the last few months, the country had lost 600,000 barrels from various attacks by the militants.
“We are making efforts to see how we get the barrels back but my attitude is that when citizens are harping on something, we need to engage.
“The take of the president is to try and engage in a dialogue, I know that given the intensity of the attack, it has caused a lot of trouble.
“Both in terms of production and continuity of production and certainty of career plans in the oil industry, the best option is ensure adequate security measures in those areas,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the deadly attack by the terrorist group Boko Haram on 3 June 2016 on a military base in Bosso in Niger State which claimed the lives of thirty soldiers from Niger Republic and two from neighbouring Nigeria.
Sixty seven other soldiers were also reported wounded during the audacious assault.
The Secretary General, Mr Iyad Ameen Madani, while expressing dismay at the continuing senseless violence by the insurgent group in of the Lake Chad Basin, conveyed his deep sympathy and condolence to the authorities of the two countries as well as to the families of the victims.
In a statement signed, Sunday, by Ms. Maha Mostafa Akeel, Director of Information Department, OIC, in Jeddah, Madani reaffirmed the principled position of the OIC against terrorism as an enemy of humanity and assured countries in the region of the determination of the OIC to continue to support their counter terrorism efforts.
Madani finally called on the Lake Chad Basin countries who are also OIC Member States to activate as a matter of urgency the Multinational Joint Task Force as a regional initiative to shore up the fight and accelerate the defeat of the Boko Haram terrorist group which remains a threat to the region.
