News

FG Moves To End Amnesty Programme, Group Kicks

Published

2 years ago

October 2, 2022

The Federal Government has concluded plans to terminate the Presidential Amnesty Programme in May 2023.

It was gathered that the office of the National Security Adviser had directed the Interim Administrator of the Amnesty Programme, Major General Barry Ndiomu (retd.), to commence the process of winding down the programme.

Ndiomu, who was appointed about two weeks ago, replaced the former PAP head, Milland Dikio, although no reason was given for his unceremonious removal which was announced in a statement by a presidential media aide, Femi Adesina.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme was established by President Musa Yar’Adua’s administration in 2009 as part of the government’s measures to reduce militancy in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

It was reported that 30,000 former militants had been enrolled into the programme with over 65 per cent of participants said to have been successfully reintegrated.

Despite reportedly gulping over N5 billion monthly, international development consulting firm, Nextier Security, Peace and Development said the PAP had failed to address the various challenges that necessitated its establishment.

The firm, in a report released in 2020, explained that the programme was taking a heavy toll on the revenue of the Federal Government, while rewarding militancy and aggressiveness in the oil-rich Niger Delta.

However, multiple sources said Ndiomu had been directed to shut down the programme within eight months.

He was said to have disclosed this to the PAP members of staff during a meeting last week.

A source said, “The interim administrator informed the (member of) staff during a meeting that the ONSA has directed him to wind down the amnesty programme within eight months. In essence, Ndiomu was appointed as the undertaker of the amnesty programme. The workers were shocked and sad to hear the news.

“But there is no justification for the decision because a similar programme to rehabilitate displaced persons in the North has not been shut down. So, why should they shut down the amnesty programme which is empowering many Niger Deltans? This is unacceptable and may spark another round of unrest in the region.’’

Another source observed that the scrapping of the amnesty programme was not acceptable to the Niger Delta region, saying the fact that the government awarded a N4.5 billion pipeline protection contract to a former militant leader, Government Ekpemopolo aka Tompolo, was not a tenable reason to end the programme.

But reacting to the development, the President of the Ijaw National Congress, Prof Benjamin Okaba, argued that the government should ‘’re-strategise the programme’’ rather than end it.

The Ijaw leader admitted that the rehabilitation phase of the amnesty programme had not been fully achieved while the training aspect had successfully produced many beneficiaries.

Okaba, however, said whatever failure had been identified should be blamed on those who were in charge of its operations, insisting that the programme itself did not fail.

According to the INC leader, the disarmament of the militants was one part of the programme that had run smoothly, adding that the rehabilitation phase posed the greatest problems.

Okaba stated, “What I’m saying is that the amnesty programme itself did not fail, it is the operators of the programme that failed. The intentions of (former) President Yar’Adua in putting together the programme was to address the fundamental developmental question in the Niger Delta.”

‘’So, if they want to scrap it, what is the alternative to the amnesty programme? Now that there is no alternative to the amnesty programme, I think the best option is to re-strategise.”

When contacted for a reaction on Saturday, the PAP spokesperson, Ms Donu Kogbara, promised to respond on Tuesday but when asked to provide an immediate response, she said, “If you are keen to wrap this up quickly, let me see whether I can talk to the interim administrator later tonight or tomorrow,” in a text message.

The Head, Strategic Communications, ONSA, Zakari Usman, did not respond to calls and a text message sent to his phone on Saturday.

News

PSR: PIND Foundation Seeks Feedback from Niger Delta Residents, Stakeholders

Published

1 hour ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) is seeking feedback from residents and stakeholders of the region for its 2024 Participatory Strategic Review (PSR). Operating in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region for over 14 years, PIND is dedicated to improving the lives and livelihoods of its people.

As an organization, PIND aims to enhance income, promote best farming practices, equip youth with market-relevant skills, provide energy to coastal communities, and restore peace in conflict-ridden areas of the region.

To date, PIND has invested over NGN 93 billion, sourced from the region’s government, donor agencies, and the private sector. Their interventions have reached over 1,057,706 farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with information on best farming practices, access to inputs, and technological innovations.

Moreover, 5,787 businesses and households can now access renewable energy through PIND’s initiatives. Over 26,387 community users of PIND-facilitated renewable energy solutions have saved NGN 1.03 billion, and 8,336 young people have gained market-relevant skills in emerging growth sectors.

All these achievements are a result of feedback from partners, stakeholders, and the public, which helps PIND design effective interventions and programs. A statement from PIND’s communications department emphasized that this feedback ensures the organization reaches the communities in the Niger Delta region that genuinely need their support.

“Every five years, PIND develops a strategic plan informed by a Participatory Strategic Review (PSR) of their work. The PSR assesses the effectiveness of developmental strategies and approaches, informing new strategic directions and identifying opportunities for continued effectiveness and relevance of PIND’s work in the Niger Delta,” the statement reads.

To share your voice and opinions, the organization encourages you to fill out this form: https://bit.ly/PINDPSR. This online survey will help them gather insights for potential partnerships, collaborations, interventions, and investment opportunities for the next five years (2025 – 2029).

We invite you to provide feedback on their impact in the region and suggestions on how their work can further benefit and enhance the lives and livelihoods of Niger Deltans.

News

JUST IN: Wike’s Loyalist Rejects Fubara’s Redeployment, Resigns As Rivers Commissioner

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

The Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Zaccaeus Adangor, SAN has rejected his redeployment to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office), and consequently resigned from the State Executive Council.

Adangor’s resignation came barely 24 hours after the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, redeployed him in a minor cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday.

Fubara, in a letter issued on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo, redeployed Adangor alongside the State Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu, who himself was moved to the Ministry of Employment Generation and Economic Empowerment.

Letter by the commissioner
Adangor and Kamalu, as well as seven other commissioners who had previously resigned from Fubara’s cabinet in the heat of the political crisis that rocked the state, are loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Adangor’s resignation was contained in a letter he personally signed, dated April 24 and addressed to the SSG on Wednesday and obtained by The PUNCH correspondent.

The letter was titled, “Cabinet Reshufflement: Notice of Rejection of Deployment and Resignation from the Rivers State Executive Council.”

Adangor accused Fubara of willfully interfering with the performance of his duties as Commissioner.

He further said the governor had in the last few weeks directed him not to defend, oppose, or appear in suits instituted against his office and the Government of Rivers State by persons admittedly hired and sponsored by the Government of Rivers State.

The six-point letter reads, “My attention has been drawn to your letter dated April 23, 2024, and widely circulated on social media whereby I was “deployed to the ministry of special duties (governor’s office).

Letter by the commissioner

“Further to the referenced letter, I hereby give you notice of my rejection of the said deployment and resignation from the Rivers State Executive Council with effect from the 24th day of April 2024.

“I wish to state for the record that I am no longer willing to continue to serve in the administration of His Excellency, Siminalayi Fubara, Governor of Rivers State, in any capacity whatsoever.

“It is important to mention that the Governor of Rivers State had in the past couple of weeks willfully interfered with the performance of my duties as the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Rivers State, by directing me not to defend, oppose, or appear in suits instituted against the Honourable Attorney-General and the Government of Rivers State by persons admittedly hired and sponsored by the Government of Rivers State.

“Having served the Government and good people of Rivers State dutifully as a member of the Rivers State Executive Council for the past five years, it has become imperative for me to quit the administration in order to preserve my reputation.

“I wish the administration of His Excellency well.”

News

BREAKING: FG Grounds Dana Air Operations After Lagos Airport Incident

Published

2 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Editor

The Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo has suspended Dana Airline operations due to concerns surrounding the safety and financial viability of their operations.

One of the airline’s craft with registration number 5N BKI skidded off the runway at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning.

Details later