A Niger Delta Peace Advocacy group, under the aegis of the Movement for Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Security Adviser(NSA), Major General Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd.), to urgently extend the tenure of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.) and confirm him as the substantive Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to sustain and stabilize the peace enjoyed across the Niger Delta region.
According to the MSDND, made up of ex-militant leaders, elders and other stakeholders, the tenure extension and confirmation of Col. Dikio (rtd.) will provide the needed intellectual to coordinate and interface with ex-militants, beneficiaries of the PAP, youths and elders across the region and bridge between President Muhammadu Buhari led administration and the people of the Niger Delta region.
The National Coordinator of the group, Chief Ayibatekena Olodin, in a statement issued via electronic mail, commended the recorded achievements of the PAP under Col. Dikio and stated that it is urgently necessary for a proper inter-agency line of communication with the PAP to be established for the crude oil and gas pipeline surveillance contractors across the region to interface, interact, and coordinate with ex-militants, youths and stakeholders in the region.
The ex-militants, stakeholders and group stated that “the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Col. Dikio (rtd) has done exceptionally well in the last two years, and his expertise is urgently needed in the renewed fight against crude oil theft to calm down frayed nerves following the commendable award of the surveillance contract to a former militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo(aka Tompolo) which will benefit thousands of families across the region and our national economy.”
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Chief Olodin noted that “since Col. Dikio (rtd), came on board as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), we have witnessed a paradigm shift on the programme in terms of relative peace across the region, change in the mindset of ex-agitators, upward oil production, entrepreneurship, engagements with stakeholders, and his credible performance record is still counting.
“Col. Dikio (rtd), has also introduced the Novel Train Employ and Mentor Scheme, (TEM), with the first graduation of 349 ex-agitators of various skills at the BRADAMA INTERNATIONAL SKILL WORKS LIMITED, in Ondo State, owned by one of the famous freedom fighters – High Chief Bibopiri Ajube, (aka Shoot-at-sight), which had brought another turn around and tremendous impact on the programme, and more so, on the recent deployment of over 1,400, ex-agitators to acquire skills, which include Aircraft Pilots/Engineers, Agriculture, Oil & Gas, Marine Sector, Clean up or Oil Spillages, among others to the PAP beneficiaries.
“Col. Dikio (rtd.), since his assumption of office in August 2020, inherited debts worth over ₦72billion and the good news is that, with the limited resources available he has been able to clear most of the debts owed to suffering contractors and PAP beneficiaries by his predecessors.
“Col. Dikio (rtd.) was first appointed in August 2020, and has, despite the challenges, been able to command widespread respect amongst the various stakeholders in the Niger Delta region. Dikio has shown capacity, he has demonstrated in the last two years that he understands the workings of the programme when you listen to his vision and template for the PAP.
“Col. Dikio (rtd.) has repositioned the PAP scheme and has given the PAP beneficiaries hope with policies to turn them into entrepreneurs, rather than solely depending on the monthly stipends. The man is good, and you can see the stability enjoyed in the region within the past two years, he is honest and transparent and very unassuming as a leader.”
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