Niger Delta
Governor Diri Urges National Assembly Members to Prioritize PAP Funding
• Says PAP is Not a Gift to the Niger Delta
In a renewed call for increased support for the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has highlighted that adequate funding is critical to the program’s success. Speaking on Friday at Government House in Yenagoa, where he hosted PAP Administrator Dr. Dennis Otuaro and his delegation, Governor Diri emphasized that PAP was not a gift to the Niger Delta but a necessary initiative to alleviate years of neglect faced by the oil-rich region.
“I would like my brothers from other states to recognize that amnesty was not a gift to the Niger Delta. It was designed to bring succor to a people who have been abandoned,” Diri stated, underscoring the need for all stakeholders to understand PAP’s true purpose.
Governor Diri stressed that funding is essential for the programme’s sustainability and called for collaboration among state governments and Niger Delta National Assembly members to tackle funding issues. He noted that other regional agencies like the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) also suffer from similar funding challenges.
“No programme can survive without funds,” Diri said, urging Dr. Otuaro to build partnerships with state governments to ensure PAP’s meaningful impact. He also cautioned against calls for PAP’s dissolution, reminding stakeholders that the issues that led to its creation remain unaddressed.
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Reflecting on the history of the region’s struggle, Diri traced the roots of PAP back to the days of the Ijaw armed struggle for justice and development, referencing notable figures like Jasper Adaka Boro. He lamented that despite Nigeria’s wealth from oil, areas like Oloibiri—the first commercial oil site in Bayelsa State—remain underdeveloped.
The Governor further commended past PAP administrators for establishing training centers across the region but expressed disappointment over the vandalism at the Kaiama training center in Bayelsa. He encouraged Dr. Otuaro to prioritize its rehabilitation.
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In his response, PAP Administrator Dr. Otuaro appealed for the state government’s support in securing funding for PAP’s training programs. He explained that while PAP is now focused on rehabilitation and reintegration, its funding was cut by half starting in 2014, despite an expanding scope. Currently, PAP supports 1,681 students in Nigerian tertiary institutions and 38 students abroad.
Additionally, Otuaro disclosed that 98 maritime cadets were recently deployed within the country and underscored the need for expanding the program to include women stakeholders with entrepreneurial ambitions.
Dr. Otuaro commended Governor Diri’s administration for maintaining peace and security in Bayelsa, the only homogenous state for the Ijaw people, stating that “the Ijaw people are grateful for the prevailing peace and security in Bayelsa State.”
