Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has urged members of staff of the organisation to be more efficient and productive in accomplishing its mandate of ensuring enduring peace and security in the Niger Delta.
Otuaro, who took charge at a re-orientation workshop for new and existing PAP Office employees in Abuja at the weekend, reiterated his commitment to diligently working towards achieving the programme’s goals.
In a statement by his media aide, Igoniko Oduma, the administrator declared that the programme was in “safe hands” and vowed to leverage his position to make a positive impact in the region by achieving sustainable peace and security through its proper implementation.
“I know all the major stakeholders in the Niger Delta and don’t need intermediaries to engage with anyone. I am not here to make money. My passion is the peace, security and development of the Niger Delta through the mainstreaming of ex-agitators and creating opportunities for them to become self-sufficient and independent,” he said.
Otuaro explained that the workshop was to foster an environment where workers could collaborate rather than work in isolation, thereby achieving the programme’s objectives more effectively.
He said, “This exercise aims to enhance our efforts to harness the elements of collaboration and teamwork to effectively implement the mandate of the Presidential Amnesty Office.
“In this regard, we will strive to deepen collaboration and consultations with critical stakeholders in implementing the programme. This noble objective can only be achieved with our staff members’ effective, efficient and dedicated input.”
The administrator further stated that the programme would explore funding opportunities for beneficiaries who have been trained in vocational skills, assuring all stakeholders that they would be treated fairly.
Established in 2009 to disarm, demobilise and reintegrate former Niger Delta agitators, the Presidential Amnesty Programme, currently in the reintegration phase, aims at mainstreaming the former agitators and providing institutional support for impacted communities in the region.
