Stabilising Relative Peace: Otuaro Envisions a Stable and Progressive Niger Delta With his Proactive Policies– Fidelis Soriwei

In March 2024, President Bola Tinubu demonstrated his resolve to entrench lasting peace in the oil-rich Niger Delta. He made a deliberate and bold departure from the long-standing tradition of appointing retired military personnel to oversee the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP)—a key agency for sustaining peace in the region.

After a thorough consultative process, President Tinubu appointed Dr. Dennis Otuaro, a dynamic and committed advocate for peace and development in the Niger Delta. The decision, widely described as a masterstroke, signaled the President’s determination to reposition the Amnesty Office as a priority agency of the Federal Government.

In previous administrations, the PAP leadership under Col. Dixon Dikio and Gen. Barry Ndiomu (both retired) operated under the title of Interim Administrators due to the federal government’s contemplation of scrapping the agency. That uncertainty sparked widespread concerns and was strongly opposed across the Niger Delta. However, President Tinubu’s clear-cut decision to appoint Dr. Otuaro as the substantive Administrator underlined his commitment to restoring stability and purpose to the programme.

The announcement of Dr. Otuaro’s appointment was met with widespread jubilation. Keen observers and stakeholders in the Niger Delta, who are familiar with Dr. Otuaro’s impressive antecedents, expressed confidence that he would justify the President’s trust.

Dr. Otuaro, who assumed office in March 2024, is a leader deeply familiar with the history and struggles of the Niger Delta. His motivation to serve, as he stated upon taking office, was not about personal gain but about restoring the effectiveness of the Amnesty Programme and aligning it with its founding objectives.

He emphasized the need for collective effort in his inaugural remarks:

 “I need everybody’s cooperation here to take this programme to greatness. As from today, we should back the crowd and face the job. I need everyone’s cooperation so we don’t disappoint the President, the NSA, the people of the Niger Delta, and Nigeria as a whole.”

To build a solid foundation for his administration, Dr. Otuaro initiated extensive stakeholder consultations across the region.

Between May 7th and 11th, 2024, Dr. Otuaro visited six partner universities under the PAP scholarship scheme. These institutions—Igbinedion University, Benson Idahosa University, Edwin Clark University, Western Delta University, Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, and Bayelsa Medical University—hosted him as he engaged directly with students. He aimed to address their concerns and explore areas of collaboration to maximize programme benefits. Notably, he became the first PAP Administrator to personally visit students in all partnering institutions.

In June 2024, Dr. Otuaro convened a consultative summit in Warri, Delta State, themed “Fostering, Consolidating, and Collaborating for Peace, Security, Stability, and Development of the Niger Delta.” He rallied ex-agitators and regional stakeholders, urging unity in preserving the gains of the Amnesty Programme to avoid a relapse into the pre-amnesty era of violence and its accompanying socioeconomic setbacks.

In September, Dr. Otuaro engaged Niger Delta women in a groundbreaking summit titled “Niger Delta Women Empowerment: A Panacea for Peace, Stability, and Economic Growth in the Region.” The event, held in Warri, brought together notable activists and stakeholders, including AnnKio Briggs, former CNN African Reporter of the Year Ibiba Don-Pedro, and others.

The Administrator assured the women of their inclusion in the PAP mandate implementation, recognizing their integral role in achieving sustainable peace and economic development.

Traditional rulers in the Niger Delta were not left out of Dr. Otuaro’s consultations. He organized a conference themed “Working Together for the Sustainable Peace, Security, Stability, and Development in the Niger Delta.” The meeting, attended by prominent monarchs, underscored their support for President Tinubu’s administration and Dr. Otuaro’s leadership.

The royal fathers, including HRM King Justice F.F. Tabai (retd) of Tuomo Kingdom, HRM King Peremobowei Erebulu of Kabowei Kingdom, and others, expressed their commitment to supporting developmental initiatives in the region. They commended President Tinubu for his strategic appointment of Dr. Otuaro, describing it as “putting a square peg in a square hole.”

Dr. Otuaro has prioritized the empowerment of Niger Delta youths through vocational education, skills acquisition, and targeted scholarships. Between March and December 2024, the following notable achievements were recorded:

• 98 trainees certified in maritime sector skills.
• 1,700 undergraduate scholarships were awarded across the region.
• Aviation training and other vocational opportunities were rolled out to enhance manpower development.

Dr. Otuaro firmly believes that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu can only succeed if peace and security are entrenched in the Niger Delta. Through his proactive leadership, he has demonstrated unwavering character and commitment to this cause.

With bold steps, transparent engagement, and measurable results, Dr. Dennis Otuaro is on course to reposition the Presidential Amnesty Programme as a catalyst for sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta. His inclusive leadership and targeted initiatives have earned him widespread support and renewed hope for the region’s future.