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PAP Scholarship: IYN Praises Tinubu, Otuaro For Transformative Leadership In Niger Delta

Published

9 months ago

January 15, 2025

Editor

Leaders of the Ijaw Youth Network (IYN) have lauded President Bola Tinubu and Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator Dr. Dennis Bruto Otuaro for their commitment to developing the Niger Delta region.

The prominent youths group particularly cited the recent award of scholarships to over 1,700 students from the region as very commendable.

In a statement by the IYN President and Secretary, Frank Ebikabo and Federal Ebiaridor, the group praised the President’s decision to retain the PAP and his appointment of Dr. Otuaro, to lead the agency.

The duo described the President’s decision as a visionary move that has started to yield unprecedented results in peace sustenance in the region.

They IYN particularly commended Otuaro for taking painstaking steps to ensure that the last scholarship exercise was transparent and fair across the region.

“President Tinubu has demonstrated exceptional wisdom not only by retaining the Presidential Amnesty Programme but by appointing Dr. Otuaro, an accomplished administrator whose leadership has brought remarkable progress to the programme,” said Ebikabo and Ebiaridor in the statement.

The IYN leaders emphasized the historic nature of the scholarship scheme, which includes opportunities for overseas master’s degree studies.

“The scale and transparency of this scholarship scheme, which provides comprehensive support including tuition, accommodation, and living expenses, demonstrates a genuine commitment to addressing the fundamental challenges facing our region,” they stated.

They noted further that “had previous administrations shown similar sustained dedication to human capital development in the Niger Delta, our region might have avoided the path to militancy.”

The Presidential Amnesty Programme recently deplored 1700 Niger Delta students on scholarships to local and foreign institutions, the first time such a large number of students would be chosen as beneficiaries of the programme.

The IYN leadership highlighted several achievements under Dr. Otuaro’s administration, including the deployment of four Niger Delta indigenes to South Africa for specialized aviation training and the training of 98 young men and women in maritime skills at the Joemarine Institute of Nautical Studies and Research.

“Dr. Otuaro has shown a deep understanding of the historical grievances that led to unrest in our region and is systematically taking bold and deliberate steps to implement these through well-thought-out initiatives,” the president and secretary noted.

However, they also called for increased funding for the programme.

The IYN leaders concluded by reaffirming their support for President Tinubu’s administration and Dr. Otuaro’s leadership.

They expressed their commitment to partnering with the federal government in fostering sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta.

News

Boko Haram Once Nominated Muhammadu Buhari As Negotiator – Jonathan Revealed

Published

3 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday, disclosed that Boko Haram insurgents once nominated the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari as their negotiator.

Jonathan said Boko Haram chose Buhari to negotiate with the Nigerian government on their behalf.

He made the disclosure while speaking at the public presentation of Scars, a book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (retd.), in Abuja.

Jonathan said the insurgents named Buhari after his then-administration set up several committees to explore dialogue with the group.

Jonathan said: “One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government.

“So I was feeling that, oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them and had a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them and they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today.”

Jonathan noted that the inability of Buhari to eradicate Boko Haram terrorists showed that the crisis was more complex than often portrayed.

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Edo: Pandemonium As NDLEA Operatives Chase Escaping Driver With Shooting

Published

5 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

There was pandemonium at Oka Market, Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Friday, as operatives of the State Command of Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) shot sporadically in chase of an escaping driver.

In the course of the commotion, traders and residents took to their heels, probably to avoid being hit by stray bullets, while others were confused, not sure of what caused the sporadic gunshots.

The sporadic gunshots which lasted more than five minutes at the gate of the NDLEA Head Office, by Oka Market, followed a hot chase of an articulated vehicle driver who was said to have brushed their (NDLEA) vehicle.

The driver, who reportedly brushed the NDLEA vehicle refused to stop for negation, which prompted officers at the scene to alert their colleagues who waited at the alert.

According to eyewitnesses, as the escaping articulated driver approached the NDLEA office, officers who were said to have been alerted by their colleagues pursuing the trailer began to shoot.

Seven of the tyres of the trailer were deflated by bullets of the NDLEA operatives yet the driver refused to stop.

The officers continued to shoot while pursuing him, until he was caught.

A source said that the driver brushed their vehicle on the way, and that every effort by the officers to stop him so they could settle the matter proved abortive; hence the gunshots and deflation of the tires.

“It was a simple thing; they jammed our men, but the officers tried to stop him so that they could settle, but the driver refused to stop. That is why the men have been shooting to stop him. Even after bursting about seven tires, he was still running, but we caught him and they are bringing him back to our office,” he concluded.

Calls and messages sent to the commander, Edo State NDLEA Command, Mr. Mitchell Ofoyeju, were not responded to as at when filing this.

News

JUST IN: Court Bars Police From Enforcing Tinted Glass Regulation

Published

7 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court sitting in Warri has issued an order directing the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of Police to maintain the status quo in the ongoing case concerning the controversial tinted glass permit.

The case, Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025: John Aikpokpo-Martins v. Inspector-General of Police & Nigeria Police Force, came up for hearing today.

Delivering the interim order, the Court directed the police authorities to respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.

Confirming the development, Kunle Edun, SAN, who led the legal team, noted that the directive is a major step in ensuring that the rule of law is upheld while the substantive issues in the case are being determined.

Details of the ruling and the next adjourned date are expected shortly.

Further updates coming soon…