Ex-Niger Delta militants in Akwa Ibom State have commended President Bola Tinubu for sustaining the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), describing it as a critical initiative for maintaining peace, promoting rehabilitation and empowering former militants across the region.
Key Highlights
- Akwa Ibom Ex-Militants’ Forum commends Tinubu for sustaining the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
- The group backs PAP chief Dennis Otuaro and condemns calls for his removal.
- It says 243 Niger Delta youths were deployed for postgraduate studies abroad in 2026.
- 150 of them went to UK universities for courses including cybersecurity, law and data science.
- The forum warns that some campaigns against Otuaro may be politically or ethnically motivated.
The former agitators, under the aegis of the Akwa Ibom Ex-Militants’ Forum (AIEMF), also expressed confidence in the management of the programme by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Dennis Otuaro.
In a communiqué signed by key leaders of the forum, including Imoh Okoko, Ekpo Ekpo, Henry Okon Etete, Elder Udom Ebetor and Udo Bassey, the group reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining peace in the Niger Delta.
The forum also cautioned individuals and groups campaigning for Otuaro’s removal, urging them to reconsider their position in the interest of regional stability and the continued ceasefire arrangement between former agitators and the federal government under the amnesty initiative.
Support For Otuaro
In the communiqué, the group declared its unwavering support for Otuaro and condemned what it described as recent calls by some individuals and organisations for his removal from office.
“As stakeholders and beneficiaries of the Niger Delta peace process, we recognise the critical role of PAP in sustaining peace, rehabilitation, reintegration, human-capital development and economic empowerment across the region,” the communiqué stated.
The forum noted that under Otuaro’s leadership, the programme had placed greater emphasis on education, vocational training, skills acquisition, empowerment and sustainable reintegration, beyond the traditional payment of monthly stipends.
Postgraduate Scholarships Abroad
It particularly commended the reported expansion of the programme’s postgraduate scholarship scheme, noting that 243 Niger Delta youths had reportedly been deployed for postgraduate studies abroad in 2026.
Among the beneficiaries, the group said, were 150 youths recently deployed to universities in the United Kingdom to pursue postgraduate programmes in specialised fields.
The listed disciplines include cybersecurity, software engineering, law, global public health, oil and gas engineering, fintech analytics, construction engineering management, forensic audit and data science.
According to the forum, such educational investments would equip young people with relevant knowledge and professional skills to contribute to the development of the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.
Read also:
- Otuaro tasks beneficiaries of PAP foreign post-graduate scholarship to focus on their studies
- Niger Delta APC Youth Vanguard rejects allegations against PAP Administrator, backs Otuaro, Tompolo
- FG to spend N195bn on amnesty programme in 3 years amid audit scandals
The group further rejected suggestions that Otuaro has lost the confidence of stakeholders in the region, expressing concern that some campaigns against him might be motivated by ethnic, sectional, personal or political interests rather than an objective evaluation of the programme’s performance.
The ex-agitators maintained that the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) remained an important instrument for consolidating peace and creating opportunities for former agitators and other Niger Delta youths.
They urged stakeholders to prioritise the sustainability of the programme and the preservation of peace in the region over personal or political considerations.
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