The Federal Government of Nigeria has been advised to pay attention to the program that has promote peace in the Niger Delta region, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The Ijaw National Leader, Pa Edwin Clark; Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Gen. Barry Ndiomu (Rtd); Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) and other prominent stakeholders from the region have warned President Bola Tinubu not to scrap the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
The stakeholders including the Ijaw National Congress (INC), ex-agitators, leaders and representatives of ethnic nationalities made the resolution after critically reviewing PAP, its benefits and challenges, during a meeting at Pa Edwin Clark residence in Abuja.
In a communiqué released after their deliberation, the group upholds that PAP had played a major role in bringing peace, security and stability to Niger Delta, boost critical oil and gas sector as a source of the country most earn revenues.
The communiqué read: “We note that the programme has carried out various training and reintegration programmes and urge that this should be sustained with greater vigor and funding. We advise that the Presidential Amnesty Programme continues to be inclusive to cover all properly accredited delegates and ensure that all ratified benefits are fully paid”.
The leaders urged FG to improve welfare of the programme as regard the economic reality in the country. Also, to establish an effective ‘Single Window Liaison’ office at the PAP Headquarters for the purpose of resolving issues, which are brought to the attention of the Administrator.
“We urge the Interim Administrator to establish Liaison Offices in the concerned States for the purpose of ensuring effective implementation of activities connected with execution of this important programme.
They further called on youths of Niger Delta to continue to embrace peace and work with the government to ensure effective implementation of PAP and other related efforts aimed at addressing the socio-economic and developmental challenges of the region.
