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Ndiomu Launches PAP Cooperative Society Limited

Published

12 months ago

May 25, 2023

Editor

…Ex-agitators hail initiative, urge Tinubu to retain him

The Interim Administrator (IA) of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (retired) on Wednesday launched the PAP Cooperative Society Limited (PAPCOSOL).

PAPCOSOL is a duly registered limited liability company aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods for Niger Delta ex-agitators and make delegates self-reliant contributors to the national economy.

The launching and presentation of PAPCOSOL’s Certificate of Registration, held at the Conference Room of the PAP Headquarters in Abuja, was witnessed by the leaders of ex-agitators and delegates; members of the Advisory Board of PAPCOSOL; management and staff of PAP, as well as the media.

Apart from the Chairman of the Advisory Board, His Royal Majesty (Dr.) Francis Tabai, a retired Honourable Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, who formally but gleefully received the registration certificate from Ndiomu on behalf of the board, other members of the board include Brigadier-General Emmanuel Salubi (retired) and Comrade Joseph Eva, a Niger Delta social and environmental activist.

Explaining the objectives and how the legacy project of his administration would change the socio-economic narrative of the Niger Delta, Ndiomu said it would adopt a private sector-driven approach.

“Our unique approach is designed to develop businesses that align with the motivations of beneficiaries, give them access to the market, access to credit and other technical and human resources that will help lead their lives and that of their communities into prosperity.

“In practical reality, through the initiative of a Cooperative Society, PAP under this dispensation aims to identify and build the capacity of beneficiaries to participate in market system opportunities; enable beneficiaries to find ease in doing business; locate high performing markets and facilitate sustainable connections with stakeholders such as farmers, processors or manufacturers and other market players; the initiative would also create opportunities for beneficiaries to build additional and sustainable means of livelihoods in agriculture, renewable energy, health and technology as well as facilitate meaningful networks with development partners that will further empower the cooperative scheme with funding and technical partnerships,” he said.

Ndiomu stated that at this take-off stage, priority focus would be given to agriculture and manufacturing value chain sectors, such as rice plantation and processing, with consideration to other sectors under medium and long-term plans.

He disclosed that the cooperative initiative has a take-off sum of N1.5 billion deposited with the Providus Bank, that can immediately be accessed by beneficiaries.

He added that additional N500 million will be provided monthly.

He further revealed ongoing engagements with funding authorities such as: the European Union (EU), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the NEXIM Bank for possibility of pooling more funds to the cooperative scheme.

Ndiomu said: “Over the years, the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has implemented various reintegration initiatives broadly built around training and empowerment/employment of beneficiaries but with less than stellar results.

“This has led many to question the Programme design and management despite the best efforts of previous administrations.

“The continued dependence of beneficiaries on monthly stipends has only served to underscore these widely held assertions. This has given cause for a new thinking that would better position PAP to more surely achieve its Reintegration mandate.”

“The Presidential Amnesty Programme (Beneficiaries) Cooperative Society Limited (PAPCOSOL) is the novel alternative economic development scheme designed to create a more viable means of livelihood for ex-agitators with socio-economic development of their communities and the Niger Delta region in general as an intended consequence and this is considered the most practicable approach in ensuring the sustainable reintegration of PAP ex-agitators.

“It is owned and managed by PAP, with its headquarters domiciled in the Programme’s Office in Abuja. In addition, the cooperative already boasts of some presence in some states in the Niger Delta—which serve as branch offices to best reach the target beneficiaries.”

Ndiomu further stated, “As conceptualized, PAPCOSOL will be closely supervised by the Office of the Interim Administrator of PAP—being its key administrative and strategic guide. The Advisory Board consists of top professionals drawn from various fields and industries and is being headed by HRM (Dr) Justice F. F. Tabai, CON, JSC (retired).

“Project consultants who will handle the technical deliverables and business development processes have been identified and engaged. Representatives of different phases of ex-agitators hold the base to the cooperative.”

The Cooperative is expected to work with beneficiaries of PAP to identify businesses that align with their skill areas or set-ups and turn such process into profitable ventures; provide technical and development support to beneficiaries to enable them own and manage business ventures; create employment opportunities to boost economic growth in the Niger Delta through: identification of business opportunities in respective localities, building beneficiaries’ entrepreneurial capacity for sustaining of business operations, provision of market and industry opportunities, attraction of development and funding support partners, access to grants and credits, and enabling market offering in consumer and global markets.

In his remark, the Advisory Board Chair, Justice Tabai said, “The Presidential Amnesty Programme has been going for many years now. But within a short time of your coming, you have done this. The first and last duty of a responsible human being is service. Thank you.”

Earlier in an address, SA Special Duties, who was team lead in midwifing PAP Cooperative Society, Mr. Thomas Peretu, said the birth of PAPCOSOL signifies the reality of Ndiomu’s vision and the beginning of a transformation of the lives of all ex-agitators.

Peretu said, “We are here to celebrate this unfolding history because one man believed something can be done to better the lots of our people. That person is Major-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu. I call him the avatar of change; the chief servant of the people of Niger Delta region.

“But everyone gathered here in this small hall is part of history because, when the delegates begin to reap the fruits of this labour in the days ahead, you should be able to say: I was part of that history.”

Also speaking, Henry Binidodogha, alias Egbema 1, a leader of Phase One, said ex-agitators have come a long way from the very beginning of Amnesty Programme. “Most of us have been worried over how we can survive with our families. So, for the Interim Administrator of Amnesty Programme to come up with this cooperative initiative, we all support it so that we can be able to achieve our goals in the Niger Delta,” he concluded.

He promised to convince other ex-agitators to support Ndiomu.

Similarly, ex-agitator and chairman of PAP Strategic Communication Committee (STRATCOM), Mr. Nature Dumale Kieghe, said he was convinced that the creation of a cooperative society for ex-agitators would change the old narrative in the Niger Delta and that the “N65,000 stipend is not sustainable. It is better for us to have something that can sustain us. We are also confident that the board that is going to manage this cooperative scheme is made up of people that have integrity and probity.”

In their separate remarks, Hon. Enekiyo Felix Bonny Ayah, a serving and re-elected legislator of Bayelsa State House of Assembly representing Southern Ijaw Constituency 1, called on the incoming government to retain Ndiomu for him to continue his good work at the PAP.

“This is what we have been saying. That someone with a heart for development should be in charge of this Programme” while Mr. Richard Akinaka also lauded Ndiomu for the cooperative initiative.

Other ex-agitators at the launching include: Tonye Gabriel Bobo, Ellington Bakumor, Fayeofori Ngiangia, Adokiye Sami, Selepere Kalabiri, Chief Falaki, and Ifiemi Ebite, all leaders of ex-agitators.

News

Mother Of Five Jailed For Forging Late Abba Kyari’s Signature

Published

5 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

A mother of five, Ramat Mba, has been sentenced to one-year imprisonment by a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Gwagwalada, Abuja, for her involvement in an employment scam.

Ramat who was also found guilty of forging the signature of the late Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to the former President, Muhammadu Buhari, was arraigned before the court by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission on a 5-count bordering on cheating, fraud and forgery, contrary to Section 13 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and Sections 320(b), 366 of the Penal Code Cap 89 laws of Northern Nigeria.

She reportedly committed the offence sometime in 2020 when she collected N4.5 million from several job seekers, promising to secure jobs for them with the ICPC and National Air Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA).

Also, the documentary evidence tendered showed that the convict fraudulently forged the letterhead of the Office of the Chief of Staff to former President Buhari and his signature. The letter, addressed to the ICPC Chairman, was a request for the recruitment of three individuals by the commission.

However, the late CoS, in a written correspondence that was also tendered in court as an exhibit, distanced himself or his office from authorising the letter.

Commenting on the sentencing, spokesperson for the ICPC, Demola Bakare said;

“The trial judge, Justice Muhammad, in his judgment on May 9, 2024, convicted the mother of five children on counts 1, 2, 3 and 5 that border on cheating and forgery, while she was discharged on count 4 which borders on felony.

“Justice Muhammad, during the sentencing on Thursday, pronounced a six-month jail term or N100,000 option of fine on counts 1, 2 and 3 on the convict.

“The presiding judge, who stressed the status of the convict as a first-time offender and a mother, also sentenced her to one-year imprisonment or N150,000 option on fine on count 5 which borders on forgery.”

News

Police Dismiss Inspector For N29.8m Theft, Kidnapping

Published

5 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has dismissed one of its officers identified as Adabo Mohammed for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, among others.

Mohammed, who was an Inspector, alongside five others was said to be a member of an armed robbery gang allegedly responsible for the stealing of N29.8 million from a victim in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory.

This was disclosed by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement issued at the Force Headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

The statement, titled, ‘Police speak tough on indiscipline, misconduct,’ noted that in a move to uphold professional standards within the Force, the Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, stressed the Force’s intolerance to any form of indiscipline.

The statement read partly, “In a decisive move to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity within the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has emphasised his administration’s zero-tolerance policy towards any form of indiscipline. He stressed that the mandate of the police is to serve and protect with honour and integrity, and as such all breaches of the core values of the NPF will be met with decisive action to maintain public trust and ensure justice.

“In line with this policy, all cases reported against personnel have been creditably attended to, and justice has been done appropriately. Many of the erring officers have been sanctioned, while some cases are still at the orderly room trial level, and will soon be concluded.

“For instance, a police inspector has been dismissed from service while three others were demoted to their previous ranks following thorough investigations which confirmed their involvement in various acts of indiscipline/crime.”

Adejobi added, “One Inspector Adabo Mohammed was dismissed for the offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery/kidnapping, and corrupt practice. The dismissed officer, along with five others were members of an armed robbery gang responsible for the robbery of the sum of N29.8 million from a victim in Gwagwalada, FCT as well as the kidnap of one Ikechukwu Emmanuel Okafor in Tunga Manje, and the collection of ransom sum of N4.4m. The ex-officer has been charged to court accordingly.

“Similarly, the trio of Inspectors Osagie Efford, Semiu Agbekin, and Francis Ahuen, attached to the Special Tactical Squad (STS), have been demoted to their previous rank of Sergeant for the extortion of some motorists in Abuja. The trio intercepted an unregistered Mercedes Benz at Gwarinpa, Abuja, and forced the occupants to part with the total sum of N29.4m.

“The matter when reported by one Harrison Gwamnishu (#HarrisonBBi18) via the social media platform ‘X’, was taken up and properly investigated. While the monies have been returned to the complainants, the officers were subjected to orderly room trial in line with extant laws, and have been demoted.”

The FPRO noted that some senior officers have “been subjected to the Force Disciplinary Committee hearings” to “scrutinise and address allegations of misconduct against higher-ranking officers of the Force.”

He assured the public that “these measures are taken with the utmost seriousness and are integral to restoring and maintaining their trust. He re-emphasised that the NPF is dedicated to fostering a culture of accountability and respect within all ranks to ensure that police officers serve with integrity.”

News

Doctor, Nurses Detained Over Missing Placenta, Umbilical Cord

Published

5 hours ago

May 18, 2024

Editor

The Kwara State Police Command has arrested medical staff from the Government Cottage Hospital in Iloffa town, located in the Oke-Ero local government area of the state, over the missing umbilical cord and placenta of a newborn baby.

A new mum, identified as Mrs. Williams C.B.A., raised the alarm about the missing placenta and umbilical cord following the delivery of her baby last Sunday.

Subsequently, police launched an investigation.

About five suspected health workers are being detained by the General Investigation Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department of the police command in Ilorin.

Kwara doctor and nurses detained over missing placenta and umbilical cord.

The matter was brought to the police headquarters in Ilorin for further investigation when efforts to unravel the mystery at various levels of the local government failed.

The investigation also found that it took the concerted efforts of elders from the Odo-Owa community to calm the frayed nerves of restive youths, who suspected foul play as they were about to burn down the hospital over the incident.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kwara State Police Command, Toun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the development and the arrest of the suspects, saying that investigation had already commenced.

Speaking with journalists, the nursing mother of the newborn baby, who teaches the English Language in the Orofa High School, Odo-Owa, narrated her ordeal.

She said: “I got to the Cottage hospital some minutes past 1:00 pm on Sunday and told the particular nurse I met on duty that I was having contraptions. She was the one who attended to me after confirming that I was truly in labour.

“She took me into the labour room and asked me to wait because I still have more time. Not quite long after I came, when the doctor also came in. At about some minutes to 5pm the doctor asked the nurse to usher me into labour room again that he wanted to check how close the baby was.

“He then asked that a drip be fixed on me, and at about some minutes past 6:00 pm, the labour started and I delivered the baby around some minutes to 7pm.

“Three women were present, two of them are nurses while one is a Ward attendant.

“In the course of the delivery, it was one Nurse Alabi that took the delivery and Nurse Adeloye and the Ward Attendant identified as Mrs Toyin. I don’t know her surname Those were the three people present.

“Lest I forget, there are two missing items inside the nylon; the Umbilical cord and the placenta.

“Also, while they were taking the delivery, a particular woman came and said that she was supposed to be on duty that day, that she took permission that she wanted to travel that she was just returning. She was also there during the delivery which makes the number of those present to be four women in all. She was also later invited by the police.

“Later the doctor joined them. He was not fully involved. He was just coming and going. The delivery was not done in his presence.

“Nurse Alabi, who took the delivery was the one who took the Umbilical cord and the placenta and dropped them inside a nylon that has the inscription name of the hospital and then dropped the nylon inside a carton placed right beside the delivery couch.

“As soon as that was done,they cleaned the baby and myself up and Nurse Adeloye ushered me into the main ward. The baby was placed beside me and I wasn’t feeling too well.

“Not long after that,Mrs Toyin brought in my belongings from the labour room which were two bags and placed them beside the bed.

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“I didn’t ask her about the contents of the bags because I thought the nylon of the placenta and the Umbilical cord was included in one of my bags .

“Very early the following morning when I woke up I remembered the placenta, when I looked around I didn’t see any of the Nurses that attended to me , probably they have gone home.

“When I discovered that the placenta was missing, I called a particular woman, also a ward maid but not among those who took my delivery in the night shift.

“When I told her, she said ‘Haaa’ that we should go together to the labour room which we did. When we got there the nylon inside which the placenta was kept was no longer there, likewise the carton too.”

She said she raised the alarm after the doctor and nurses who delivered the baby failed to produce the placenta and umbilical cord.

“Some of their staff started telling me they’re sorry that there was a mistake. The attendant said she had thrown the placenta inside a pit but they could not find it suggesting a dog might have eaten it.

“That was When I flared up with some members of my church who were also present that it’s not possible that they just have to present the placenta.”

Mrs Williams’ father, Mr Rufus Sanya, said he suspected foul play.

“How could an umbilical cord and a placenta of a new baby be missing when we all know the implication?

“I urge the police to do a thorough investigation and unravel the mystery behind this disappearance. That is only when justice would be said to have been served and we would be at peace with ourselves,” he said.