President Mohammadu Buhari today received in the Presidential Villa, the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd).
He was in the company of the National Security Adviser, Major Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), to intimate the President on the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
Col. Dikio (rtd) took over the leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme on the 21st of September, 2020. The interim administrator, since assumption of office has been working tirelessly to ensure that the programme delivers sustainable peace and human development through transparent processes that shall ascertain that all resources are effectively utilized. The Interim Administrator, who has been having series of meetings with management and staff states that a new systematic structure which shall be put in place will not permit abuse of trust and processes.
Recently, the Interim Administrator in a meeting with students leaders of the Presidential Amnesty Programme in Nigeria restated his readiness to work in synergy with all stakeholders especially the students of PAP to ensure the maintenance of peace and avoidance of all forms of violence and protest. This is in order to achieve the needed development in the Niger Delta region.
The Presidential Amnesty Programme set up on June 25 2009 by Late President Yar’adua administration was expected to deliver sustainable peace and human development through the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration of ex-agitators. He wants all to realize that the Amnesty package includes the intervention through NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta, relationship with the International Oil Companies, pipeline and environmental protection etc.
Consistent with the Strategic Objectives of the Federal Government, the vision of the Administrator is to refocus the Amnesty Programme to its original mandate of development and security of the Niger Delta Region. Thus, the key elements of this vision are:
a. Restoration of the mandate of the Amnesty Programme to its original intent and take service to the Niger Delta where the ex-agitators are domiciled.
b. Train the ex-agitators to become entrepreneurs who will act as agents of change to reverse the narrative of a people dependent on stipends but to self-actualized employers of labor and net contributors to the economic prosperity of the Niger Delta.
c. Coordinate and cooperate with relevant agencies set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to compliment the efforts of the Amnesty Programme to ensure the development and security of the Niger Delta in line with the broader Amnesty Package.
d. Ultimately, it is our firm belief that working with the various governments in the region we can make the Niger Delta the most secure place to live and do business in Nigeria.
The Interim Administrator is extending a hand of fellowship to all stakeholders to ensure the success of the programme.
Dibiaezue-Eke Florence
Director, Information
