News
FG Ends Amnesty Programme, Soon
The Federal Government says it is desirous to wind down its Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in the Niger Delta region soon.
The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen Paul Boroh (rtd) revealed this in Abuja, after a meeting with stakeholders to analyse the success of the programme.
It will be recalled that the programme was established in 2009 by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and was meant to last for only three years.
Boroh said the Presidential Amnesty Programme has met its mandate of providing peace and stabilising the Niger Delta security environment through its training and empowerment of ex-militants and was now due for termination.
He explained that the 92 per cent (21,805) of those schooling abroad and those undergoing various skills training out of the 30,000 estimated beneficiaries had graduated, leaving only 8 per cent (8,195) to be engaged in agricultural programmes.
“We have successfully trained a total of 21,805 amnesty beneficiaries in both our local and overseas universities and in vocational training institutions within and outside Nigeria as pilots, marine engineers, oil and gas engineers, medical doctors, lawyers etc. They have become valuable generation of skilled youth that are contributing positively to national development.
‘‘Also, in line with government economic diversification policy, large numbers of our trained delegates are now empowered and deployed into various fields of agriculture and its value chain in order to revamp Nigeria economy.
‘‘The services of 131 offshore universities/institutions to train 1,723 and from these foreign institutions, 1,523 have graduated with a balance of 200 that will graduate in 2018. 1,054 ex-militants have graduated from Nigerian universities and there is a balance case load of 2,843 that are at various stages of their scholarship programme and most will graduate in 2018.
‘‘Also, the services of 200 local and foreign Skills Acquisition Centres was utilised to train 15,140 beneficiaries. Under its post training empowerment, 4,203 have been empowered and delegates have established their businesses. They are now entrepreneurs and are helping to provide gainful employments to other youths.
‘‘With these, it is obvious that the programme has met its strategic mandate. This was achieved with the efforts of the Federal Government, PAP, PANDEF and the youth leaders”, Boroh said.
‘‘That is why we are highly desirous to wind down the amnesty programme very soon,’’ he added.
On his 2018 programme plans, the coordinator said his office will continue to deepen its agricultural empowerment programme in line with Federal Government green alternative initiative and use it to create jobs for youth, with special interest in rice farming, fish pond, piggery and snail farming.
According to him, the training of delegates has already commenced in cluster farms in the nine Niger Delta states.
“My office has projected to empower and create 10,000 new farms owners, who will then employ 40,000 farm workers, their logistics and processing agricultural value chain will also create additional 30,000 new jobs, thus making our agricultural empowerment scheme to provide 80,000 new jobs.
‘‘We have concluded discussions with a trawler company, the Greek Fisheries Institute to use the Burutu sea port in Delta State to train and engage 1,000 ex-militants into commercial aquaculture fishing business.’’
However, Boroh said that some African countries have shown interest in applying the method used by the amnesty office to achieve peace in the Niger Delta.
He listed Namibia, Uganda, and Cote D’Ivoire as some of the countries that have sent in their request, and assured that the PAP would do everything possible to export the expertise in line with the United Nations principle.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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