The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has said the federal government is reforming the amnesty programme to give it a human face, and help develop the people of the Niger Delta for a better future.
The amnesty programme boss explained that the reforms form part of the Tinubu administration’s resolve to add value to the programme beyond the N65,000 monthly stipends paid to ex-militants.
A statement on Sunday, issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the PAP boss, Igoniko Oduma, said Otuaro said this at a closed-door meeting with the leaders of ex-agitators from Bayelsa State, led by Selky Torughedi, alias General Young Shall Grow, with the President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Jonathan Lokpobiri, in attendance in Yenagoa, on Saturday.
The PAP boss attributed the successes recorded since his appointment, to the strong support from President Bola Tinubu, who understands the challenges of the Niger Delta region, and is ready to do more for the amnesty programme.
He called on Ijaw and the Niger Delta people to be united, and encourage the president to create more opportunities for growth, and development in the region.
Otuaro said “as soon as my leadership came on board, we started our reforms to add value to the programme beyond the monthly N65,000 stipend, 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 help them.
“We must ensure that we develop our people, especially now that we have a president, 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 serious.”
He informed the stakeholders that the amnesty office in 2024, trained 98 beneficiaries to acquire maritime related skills, with four pilot trainees graduating from training in South Africa, while 45 others undergoing aviation engineering training in Lagos, will graduate this March, among other laudable initiatives.
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On the deployment of scholarship beneficiaries for the 2024/2025 academic session in various partnering universities, Otuaro said he deliberately ensured a thorough, and transparent process because it was the right thing to do.
He said he took responsibility for the outcome of the deployment process, which had the number of beneficiaries increased from the initial 1,700 to 2,500 for the academic session.
According to him, the amnesty office is fine-tuning plans to carry out an economic empowerment programme for the region’s women, and a leadership training for ex- leaders of militant groups, and other stakeholders in the coming months.
The PAP boss maintained that he is in office to render service to the people of the region, and appealed for support and cooperation from all stakeholders who love the area.
Speaking, the former militant leaders at the meeting, commended the PAP helmsman for restoring the programme to the people, and called on stakeholders to support him.
