Abuja—The recently appointed Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Ndiomu (rtd), has promised ex-agitators and other stakeholders of the scheme that he will discharge his duties with accountability and transparency.
Speaking during his maiden interactions with some leaders of ex-agitators, Ndiomu said, henceforth, all activities in PAP would be subjected to periodic review in line with the mandate of the programme.
A statement by his spokesman, Thomas Peretu, quoted Ndiomu as describing the reintegration stage of PAP as critical, stating that he would create new channels to ensure constant dialogue with PAP beneficiaries and stakeholders in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
He vowed to pursue a managerial paradigm shift that would dismantle all the challenges hindering the programme and blocking the exit routes of trained agitators.
Ndiomu explained that the PAP was designed with an exit route for all trained and empowered ex-agitators.
Retaining the same number of ex-agitators after 13 years of operation was against PAP’s mandate, he added.
He said government had been magnanimous enough to extend the life span of the programme to allow for peace and harmony in the region.
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He, however, appealed to stakeholders to bear in mind that one day the programme would end as it did in other conflict zones, especially in South America.
Ndiomu, however, said the programme would not be terminated abruptly in the interest of the prevailing peace in the Niger Delta region.
“Maybe some day the programme may transit or metamorphose into a more robust and sustainable initiative that will take into account the special needs of the people in the face of present dynamics of the region,” he said.
The amnesty boss appealed to the delegates and stakeholders in the region to support his administration’s efforts to utterly realise the mandate of PAP.
He further promised to revive all the PAP vocational centres for massive deployment of ex-agitators for training and empowerment.
Mangrovepen.ng gathered that all the representatives of the various stakeholders at the meeting promised to support Ndiomu’s plans to actualise the mandate of PAP in the interest of the region.
