The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dennis Otuaro, has said that his ongoing reforms are aimed at giving the scheme a human face and helping to develop the people of the Niger Delta for a better future.
He explained that this objective informed his resolve to add value to the programme beyond the N65,000 monthly stipends paid to the ex-agitators.
A statement released by the Special Assistant to the PAP Administrator on Media, Igoniko Oduma, said Otuaro stated this at a closed-door meeting in Yenagoa on Saturday with the leaders of ex-agitators from Bayelsa State, led by His Royal Highness Selky Kile Torughedi, alias General Young Shall Grow.
The President of the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Jonathan Lokpobiri, was also at the meeting.
Otuaro said his determination was boosted by the strong support of President Bola Tinubu, who understands the challenges of the region and is ready to do more for the programme.
However, he said the Ijaw and other people of the Niger Delta must be united and encourage the President to create more opportunities for growth and development in the region.
“As soon as my leadership came on board, we started our reforms to add value to the programme beyond the monthly N65,000 stipends paid to the ex-agitators. If we don’t add value to the programme, then we will not be developing the future of our people.
“My concern is that we must give the programme a human face so that tomorrow, it will actually be seen to have made an impact on the people and helped them.
“We must ensure that we develop our people, especially now that we have a President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who understands our problems and has been supporting the programme massively. The President will do more if we are united. We must be united, but if we are not, nobody will take us seriously,” he said.
The administrator informed the stakeholders that the PAP office, in 2024, trained 98 beneficiaries for maritime skills acquisition, while four pilot trainees graduated from training in South Africa. He also revealed that 45 persons deployed for aviation engineering training in Lagos would graduate in March 2025.
According to him, beneficiaries of the scholarships for the 2024/2025 academic session were selected through a thorough and transparent process.
Noting that the number of beneficiaries increased from the initial 1,700 to 2,500 for the academic session, he vowed that he would not allow the scheme to be hijacked.
In the same vein, Otuaro announced that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is planning an economic empowerment programme for women of the Niger Delta, as well as leadership training for ex-agitators and other critical stakeholders.
Stressing that he is in office to render service to the people of the region, the PAP administrator appealed for support and cooperation from all stakeholders.
Speaking at the meeting, leaders of the ex-agitators—Paul Eris, alias General Ogunboss, and Bony Ayah, alias General Don Inikio, who is a member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly—and IYC leader Jonathan Lokpobiri lauded Otuaro for restoring the programme to the people and called on stakeholders to support him.
They also extolled the chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, noting that his commitment to the liberation of the Niger Delta was unmatched.
Other ex-agitators at the meeting included General Africa Ukparasia, General Pius, General Darikoro, Elaye Slabo, Iziri Lucky, alias General Lucky 7, and Hon. Gibson, among others.