Amnesty: Second Batch Of Aircraft Engineers Begin Training

The Office of the Presidential Amnesty Programmme (PAP) has said that another set of 20 ex-agitators from the Niger Delta has commenced a five-week mandatory training that will lead to their certification and type rating as licenced Aircraft Maintenance Engineers.

In a statement signed by the special adviser on media to the PAP interim administrator, Freston Akpor, yesterday, he said a 12-month on-the-job training (OJT) will precede this experience after they successfully graduate from the class course phase of the programme.

He said the beneficiaries are part of the 75 Pilots/Aircraft Maintenance Engineers under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Aviation Training Scheme, out of which a first set of 20 Aircraft Maintenance Engineers successfully graduated on October 31, 2023. In his goodwill message yesterday in Lagos at the programme’s inauguration, the PAP interim administrator, Major General Barry Ndiomu (Rtd), noted that the flag-off of the training for the second batch is another “promise Kept” by his administration.

Ndiomu who was represented by PAP’s head of reintegration, Mr Wilfred Musa, posited that currently, the global aviation industry is expanding at a rapid pace, and manpower development is being emphasised by both the industry operators and regulators. He reiterated that through this specialised programme, the PAP has become a critical supplier of strategic manpower to the global aviation industry.

He added that the PAP is poised to sustain this momentum of creating cutting-edge opportunities for the career advancement of Niger Deltans. He added that it is in line with President Bola Tinubu's "Renewed Hope Agenda."

The managing director of Alom Aviation Services Ltd, Captain Austin Omame, commended the PAP chairman for pushing on with the Aviation Resuscitation Programme, adding that with their OJT/Type rating licences in their hands, they can secure aviation jobs anywhere in the world.

Onyeama Kingsley, one of the beneficiaries who spoke on behalf of the second batch trainees, promised that they would reciprocate the efforts of the PAP with dedication and hard work.