Ndiomu Hands Over Amnesty Programme to Otuaro: A New Era for Niger Delta Development

Major General Barry Ndiomu (retd) has handed over leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, marking the end of a successful 18-month tenure and the beginning of a new chapter for the Niger Delta region.

Otuaro, appointed by President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has pledged to provide quality service to the Niger Delta and the nation, ensuring that there will be no room for failure during his time in office.

During his tenure, Ndiomu left a significant impact on the lives of PAP beneficiaries, with various initiatives such as the resuscitation and training of Type-Rated as Pilots & Aircraft Maintenance Engineers, the Presidential Amnesty Cooperative Scheme, and sustained scholarships.

In his remarks, Otuaro emphasized the importance of cooperation among the members of staff and assured them that he is not in the Amnesty Office to pursue personal gains.

He also urged the members of staff to embrace his principle of focusing on the job at hand and not getting distracted by personal interests.

As the new Interim Administrator, Otuaro faces the challenge of addressing the issues in the Niger Delta, as it concerns the PAP and the struggle to better the lives of beneficiaries.

Given the expectations of Niger Delta youths, Otuaro will need to build on the foundation laid by Ndiomu and raise the bar to ensure continued development in the region.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme was initiated and signed into law in 2009, to stem youth restiveness, agitation, and destruction of oil processing infrastructure in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region.

The mandate of the program is to Disarm, Demobilize, and Reintegrate ex-agitators back into society.

With a new leader at the helm, the future of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and the Niger Delta region looks promising.

The focus on cooperation, quality service, and addressing the needs of the region will undoubtedly lead to further progress and positive change in the Niger Delta.