Port Harcourt—A Niger Delta youth leader, Comrade Sokari Goodboy Sokari, has congratulated the interim administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Colonel Milland Dikio on his one year in office.
In a statement obtained by Mangrovepen.ng, Sokari thanked the amnesty boss for instituting people-friendly reforms which he says have positively transformed the lives of delegates in the Niger Delta.
Sokari, a pioneer chairman of Abua-Odual/Engenni-Ogbogolo special chapter of the foremost Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), commended Dikio for his giant strides in repositioning the programme.
He lauded the interim administrator for setting up a strategic communication committee to interface with delegates and Niger Deltans.
According to Sokari, “Colonel Dikio’s decision to reposition the PAP scholarship programme by sending students to the best schools is a welcome development.
“Instead of just buying starter packs for delegates, he has introduced reforms that train, mentor and employ them.
“His focus on training delegates both in the maritime and agricultural sectors is indeed commendable as well.”
He lauded the amnesty boss for facilitating the prompt payment of ex-agitators, saying it has significantly helped to restore peace in the volatile region.
In his words: “For the first time, majority of ex-agitators are satisfied with the performance of the amnesty office. This is an indication that Dikio has done creditably well in the last one year.
“The idea of partnering with Nirsal microfinance bank to dish out grants to enterprising Niger Deltans is another good initiative of the amnesty office under Dikio.”
