Presidential Amnesty Programme Stays, As FG Shelves Planned Scrapping

By Ayodele Oni

Hope of the people of the Niger Delta area of the country has been rekindled, following federal government’s decision to continue the implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, (PAP).

PAP, which was introduced in the wake of unrest in the Niger Delta area, where Nigeria’s oil is being explored, has benefitted several indigenes of the area through education abroad and other empowerment programme.

A new interim administrator, Major Gen, Barry Ndiomu, who was appointed about two months ago, had announced that his mission was to wind down PAP as federal government is no longer interested in its implementation.

The interim administrator, in a statement at the weekend, however, confirmed that the federal government has shelved plan to close PAP.

The statement, signed by media consultant, Donu Kogbara, expressed gratitude to the federal government for listening, when it was made clear that critical stakeholders in the region were opposed to winding down of PAP.

Ndiomu added that all responsible stakeholders nevertheless, support change and share view that the programme needs to be totally refocused and restructured.

He stated that government weighed the argument presented to it on merit and decided to suspend the planned shutdown.

According to him, the federal government’s willingness to retrace its step demonstrated the sensitivity of President Mohammadu Buhari’s led administration to issues affecting Niger Delta people.

” The federal government has heard the concerns of the Niger Delta people and with our best interest at heart, has decided  to shelve an earlier unwanted termination agenda and transform PAP into a more sanitized entity.

“The decision was taken after the feelings of stakeholders and people of the region were communicated to the government and proves that Buhari’s administration will not do anything to jeopardize the peace in Niger Delta.

“We call on Stakeholders to sustain the peace in the region and help the new administration reform, refocuss and reposition the programme for optimum performance.”