News

PAP: IPDI Tackles Group Over Attack On Otuaro

Published

1 year ago

July 22, 2024

Group known as Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI) has sent a stern warning to persons it regarded as “enemies of Niger Delta” who according to the group are “sponsoring unpopular, unfounded, mischievous, barbaric and lackadaisical attacks against the administrator of the Presidential Amnesty programme, Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro.”

Reacting to an attack by the group
on the PAP administrator, IPDI said it would not allow “enemies from the pit of hell to defame, demarket and distract the PAP administrator.”

The group, the IPDI described as “non-existing faceless parochial, branding and parading under, the Project Niger Delta (PND),” was said to have attacked the PAP administrator after the president of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Professor Benjamin Okaba endorsed him on behalf of Council.

The group’s, National president, Comrade Ozobo Austin in a statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to an odious, vexatious, inciting and a provocative online publication by enemies of Niger Delta parading under the cover of a faceless group “Project Niger Delta” attacking the most qualified and experienced Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Dr Dennis Otuaro and the president the Ijaw National Congress, INC.

The statement reads, “We wish to state that those sponsoring attacks against Dr Dennis Otuaro are agents of darkness and enemies from the pit of hell and that such attacks and unpopular opinions never represent the collective interest of the Ijaw nation.

“The sponsors of the attacks should also know that Dr Dennis Otuaro is not deterred by any attack from any quarter but very committed to transforming the almost collapsing presidential Amnesty programme to benefit the Niger Delta region.

“It is our candid advice to the bandwagons to retrace their steps and stop inimical attempts to pull down their brother for selfish interests, and join hands with him to build a legacy for the PAP for the benefit of the region.

“It may interest you to know that Dr Dennis Otuaro is a man who has brought sparkling reforms, innovations and total commitment to advance and improve the performance of the amnesty programme and that only enemies who want to keep the office in a total blackout for the interest of their pockets are attacking him.”

IPDI described PND’s statement as “misleading” and “unfortunate”, stating that Okaba’s endorsement was a testament to Otuaro’s unwavering leadership and commitment to revolutionary reforms of the PAP to better beneficiaries and the Niger Delta region at large. They accused PND of being “agents of darkness” attempting to discredit Otuaro and Okaba.

“We want to state unequivocally that the sponsors of the said publication acted in ignorance, because there is no part of the INC constitution that states that the president must gathered the entire Exco before expressing gratitude and appreciation in away of endorsement of deserving Ijaw sons and daughters who are doing well.”

IPDI commended Okaba for the wisdom to support his own, saying he had done what is noble and that the endorsement was for the interest of the Niger Delta people. They urged the public to disregard PND’s statement, which they claimed was fueled by jealousy, envy and a desire to incite and divide the region.

The IPDI’s statement stressed, “We stand solidly behind Dr. Otuaro, who has consistently demonstrated his dedication to the progress and transformation of the presidential Amnesty programme in a few days in office.

“We will not allow the antics of mischief-makers like faceless PND to distract Otuaro from accomplishing his set goals in the office. The faceless PND are the bounce of hungry men who want to cash out by blackmailing Otuaro and the PAP office.

“We know the people behind the attack, they are some purportedly angry members of the same Ijaw National Congress,INC.It is our warning that such persons should desist from further attack on Otuaro. If they have a dispute with their INC president, let them sort it out between themselves because if they try it, we will expose their identities.

“The PND day dreamers and sponsors who are suffering from mouth diarrhea and dementia should know that Dr Dennis Otuaro is the substantive administrator of the presidential Amnesty programme and not a self-acclaimed PAP Administrator.

“The president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NSA and the National Assembly are relating with him cordially and that PND sponsors should hide their face in shame.

“We, however, strongly condemn the PND sponsors’ statement alleging that some Ijaw big brothers are depriving and enslaving the voiceless majority and making themselves lords over the Ijaws in Delta and beyond.

“This is a desperation taken too far. It is shameful. Our big brothers are the reason why the Niger Delta Emancipation struggle is still making strong impacts. They should be commended for their selfless sacrifices and unwavering contributions to the Niger Delta struggle. They are not enslaving and depriving anybody rather have empowered thousands of persons to earn a living.

“We want to state again that the faceless and parochial authors of the said provocative publication are poor students of history, where were these faceless people when the mein part of the Ijaw were dominating the political space beginning from military to democracy, instead of them using such opportunities to advance the development of Ijaw nation and groom young youths, they spent the long privilege to be blocking, and enslaving their brothers and thinking they will be there forever.

“It is sad, we should refrain and stop the pull him or her down syndrome in Ijaw nation and Niger Delta region and work with our big brothers who are more concerned about the Ijaw and Niger Delta struggle.

“It should be also noted that Otuaro is not seeking any endorsement from anyone, his appointment is valid, verified and stamped by Mr president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and NSA. He is the popular choice of Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta at large, so Otuaro attackers should go and hug and kiss the transformer and die”, the noted.

News

PAP Sends Additional 34 Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship Beneficiaries To UK Varsities

Published

46 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed an additional 34 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator, PAP.

According to the statement, the scholars’ programmes include data science, fintech analytics, cyber security, international energy law and policy, construction project management, public health, agri-food technology, electrical and petroleum engineering, among others.

The statement added that more foreign post-graduate scholars will be sent to UK universities in the current academic session.

“In December 2025, nine students, who were the first set of offshore post-graduate scholarship developments by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic year, graduated from their various programmes in UK universities.

“Otuaro has deployed over 9000 students to universities within and outside Nigeria for different industry-relevant programmes since he assumed office in March 2024,” the statement partly reads.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation programme for the scholars at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Otuaro said that the large-scale deployment was aimed at making the Niger Delta a knowledge-driven region.

He said that his leadership reinvigorated the programme to give it a new momentum in service delivery to the people of the region based on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro said, “We are sending all of you for post-graduate studies in various universities in the United Kingdom.

“The PAP now has a new momentum and direction because of the repositioning and broad reforms that we carried out in line with the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The objective behind the huge scholarships deployment is to ensure that we develop the needed human capital to transform the Niger Delta and generate knowledge-wealth.

“We want to develop relevant manpower in critical disciplines for our region and by extension, the country, because you are expected to contribute your quota to national development after successful graduation.”

The PAP boss, who was represented at the event by his Technical Assistant, Mr Edgar Biu, advised the scholars to study hard to achieve academic excellence in their various fields of research.

According to him, the scholars have an obligation to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education and future.

He reiterated his warning that beneficiaries should not take for granted the opportunity to further their academic pursuits in the interest of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “enormous interest and support for the Programme”, particularly the approval of an upward review of the programme’s budget from N65billion to N150billion.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his impeccable guidance and supervision of the programme’s initiatives.

Otuaro, therefore, cautioned the scholars to obey their host country’s laws and the rules and regulations of their various institutions, stressing that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and their communities and families.

Highpoint of the orientation programme was the presentation of laptops to the scholars to help them in their studies.

News

Industrial Court Bars Resident Doctors From Strike

Published

2 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The National Industrial Court in Abuja has issued an interim injunction restraining the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) and its agents from embarking on any form of industrial action, including strikes, go-slows, picketing, or preparatory steps for protest, from Monday, January 12, 2026.

Justice E.D. Subilim ordered that the injunction remain in force pending the hearing of the motion on January 21. The suit was filed by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Federal Government against NARD, its president, Dr Mohammad Suleiman, and Dr Shuaibu Ibrahim.

The court order comes days after resident doctors at the Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, declared their full support for the nationwide strike announced by NARD over the government’s alleged failure to honour critical welfare and training agreements.

UDUTH doctors cited the non-reinstatement of five disengaged resident doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, unpaid promotion and salary arrears, and incomplete implementation of the Professional Allowance Table as key grievances. Other unresolved issues include withheld specialist allowances, delayed house officers’ salaries, postgraduate training certification delays, and deteriorating hospital infrastructure.

However, NARD had on Tuesday noted that there was no going back on the industrial action, insisting that the strike is necessary and not politically motivated. Speaking in Abuja, Dr Suleiman said the withdrawal of services from midnight on Monday is a response to “unmet commitments, shifting government positions and worsening working conditions for resident doctors, not partisan considerations.”

He argued that none of the demands outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Federal Government on November 27, 2025, have been implemented.

“Every issue is either at the same point where it was when we signed the MoU or we have even gone backwards,” Dr Suleiman said, adding that claims by the Ministry of Health that some issues had been resolved were misleading.
He further challenged the government to show where N90 billion, allegedly allocated in the 2026 budget for health workers’ professional allowances, has been provided.

The association also demanded the immediate reinstatement of the five disengaged resident doctors at FTH Lokoja with full back pay and rejected plans to redeploy them elsewhere.

Other grievances include delayed promotion arrears across 62 tertiary institutions, non-recognition of specialist certificates, and outstanding salary and allowance payments affecting nearly 40 percent of resident doctors.

While NARD remains open to dialogue and has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for decisive intervention, it warned that unless concrete action is taken, the planned industrial action will go ahead, potentially disrupting healthcare services nationwide. Dr Mujitaba Umar, President of the UDUTH chapter, described the situation as “difficult but unavoidable,” while the chapter’s General Secretary, Dr Muhammad Abdulrahman Hassan, urged the Federal Government to act swiftly “in the interest of the Nigerian populace and the healthcare system.”

News

Nigeria To Get Fresh $9.5m Abacha Loot From UK’s Jersey

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

Nigeria to receive fresh $9.5 million (£7 million), believed to be stolen funds linked to former military Head of State, Sani Abacha, from the United Kingdom’s Jersey.

According to the BBC, Jersey has agreed to repatriate the fund to the Nigerian government.

The money, described as proceeds of “tainted property,” is said to be part of the vast fortune stolen by Abacha, who ruled Nigeria between 1993 and 1998.

The funds were kept in a bank account in Jersey and had been tied up in legal proceedings for several years.

Although the assets were first recovered during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, court challenges stalled their return to Nigeria. Progress was made in December 2025 when Jersey’s Attorney-General, Mark Temple, signed a memorandum of understanding, MoU, with Nigerian authorities to enable the repatriation.

The latest agreement builds on two earlier arrangements between Jersey and Nigeria that led to the return of more than $300 million (£230m) in recovered assets.