The Federal Government of Nigeria has hinted on a total closure of the Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) within six months.
The newly appointed Interim Administrator, Maj Gen Barry Ndiomu was mandated to close the programme and scrap the amnesty office on or before April 2023, according to reports.
According to sources;
“The new Interim administrator of PAP has been given a brief by the Federal Government to end the programme in six months. His appointment letter is for the duration of six months. He has received a marching order from the government.”
Again, as part of the mandate, Ndiomu’s letter of appointment was designed to expire in six months unlike his predecessor, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (retd), who was given two terms of one year each.
The late former President, Musa Yar’Adua, proclaimed an amnesty for the Niger Delta militants in 2009 to end arm struggle initiated by the youths in protest against marginalisation and injustice meted out on the region by the Federal Government.
The proclamation led to the establishment of the Amnesty Office with a mandate to run a Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration programme for reorientation of the ex-militants, empowering and integrating them into society.
Leave a comment