220 Nigerians Studying In UK Under Amnesty Programme — FG

The federal government has disclosed that over 220 Nigerians are currently studying in the United Kingdom under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), while more than 8,000 beneficiaries are pursuing various academic programmes within Nigeria.

Minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known during a meeting with beneficiaries of the scheme in the UK. The meeting was held on the sidelines of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Britain at the invitation of King Charles III.

Also present at the meeting was the minister of state for petroleum resources, Heineken Lokpobiri.

In a statement shared via handle on Wednesday, Idris expressed satisfaction with the progress and impact of the programme, nearly two decades after its establishment.

“It is very heartwarming to witness the impact of the programme first-hand and interact with beneficiaries,” he said.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme was established in 2009 by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua as part of efforts to address militancy in the Niger Delta through disarmament, rehabilitation, and reintegration of former agitators.

Over time, the initiative has expanded to include formal education, vocational training, and empowerment schemes aimed at promoting sustainable peace and development in the oil-rich region.

Idris reaffirmed the commitment of the current administration to creating opportunities for young Nigerians.

“The President’s desire is to ensure that all Nigerians, including and especially the youth, are given the right opportunity to thrive and to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country,” he added.

He noted that conditions in the Niger Delta have improved significantly compared to previous years, attributing the progress to sustained government interventions, including the PAP.

The minister said the region, once marked by “deprivation, degradation and disorder,” is now experiencing relative stability and growth.

Providing further insight, Idris quoted the programme administrator/ oordinator, Dennis Otuaro, as saying,

“There are over 8,000 students studying in Nigeria at the moment, and over 220 undergoing various studies in the UK.”

He described the programme as a major success story, calling it “one of the best programmes” implemented in the country, and assured that the Tinubu administration would continue efforts to strengthen and reposition it.