The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Boroh

  • ‘Recall Boroh or we’ll resume militancy’

    A coalition of nine militant groups in Niger Delta, yesterday, gave President Muhammadu Buhari an ultimatum to recall the sacked Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh.

    The groups, under the auspices of the Reformed Niger Delta Avengers (RNDA), said they would resume hostilities, if Buhari refused to recall Gen. Boroh.

    RNDA’s Leader ‘General’ Johnmark Ezonbi sent an electronic mail to some journalists in Bayelsa.

    Ezonbi alleged that nothing tangible had been recorded in Niger Delta since All Progressives Congress (APC) came to power in the centre.

    He said it was curious that Buhari sacked Boroh, despite his efforts at setting a template for the smooth operation of the Amnesty Office.

    The ex-militant said their striking units would begin “Operation Zero Oil”,  a coordinated destruction of major pipelines after expiration of the four-week ultimatum.

    Ezonbi said: “I want to warn that any intruder into our planned action in four weeks’ time if the Federal Government failed to reinstate Gen. Paul Boroh would be severely dealt  with without mercy. Our attack will make security agencies in the creek very small.

    “We are fully ready to take on anybody as we have the instrumentality of warfare that will make the biggest military might to marvel at our coordinated attacks. We are ready to dirty our rivers and creeks with our oil; it is better we spill it than allow government use it to develop other parts of the country.

    “We are not unmindful of the roles played by self-styled leaders of the APC in the Southsouth by sponsoring falsehood against the person and office of Boroh for his blunt refusal to grease their palms to the detriment of the Amnesty Programme meant strictly for ex-militants and agitators.

    “We have always known those leaders to be anti-Niger Delta since the coming on board of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government as the latter kicked against the establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko.”

    Ezonbi said Boroh made efforts to put the programme on track with regular training of ex-militants and payment of monthly stipends without delay.

    He said: “The RNDA declares Prof. Charles Dokubo unfit for the job because of his age. He has long lost touch with happenings in the creeks.

    “The Federal Government will hear from us at the expiration of the four-week ultimatum as no single stone will be left unturned as the Buhari-led administration prefers to go back to the recession period where Boroh played a major role by visiting the creeks with other stakeholders to prevail on the ‘boys’ to drop their arms and embrace peace.”

  • Buhari sacks Boroh, appoints Dokubo

    President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh as the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants.

    He approved the appointment of Prof. Charles Dokubo as the new helmsman.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina,  announced the change in Abuja yesterday.

    Prof. Dokubo is a director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs. He holds a PhD in Strategic Studies from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom and hails from Abonema in Akuku-Toru Local Government of Rivers State.

    The President has directed the National Security Adviser (NSA) to carry out investigation into the activities of the Amnesty Programme from 2015 to date.

    According to Adesina, the investigation should particularly cover the allegations of “financial impropriety and other acts that are allegedly detrimental to the objectives of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.’’

  • ‘Boroh has innovated Amnesty’

    ‘Boroh has innovated Amnesty’

    LEADERSHIP of the Coalition of APC Youth Support Groups in Southsouth has passed a vote-of-confidence in the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh.

    It said Boroh has innovated the programme since he assumed office.

    Chairman of the coalition, Fubara Dagogo, at a news conference in Abuja, yesterday, said the programme had lived up to its mandate, which is to “constructively resolve conflicts in the Niger Delta region.”

    He said their assessment of Gen. Boroh showed that his office never discriminated against participants of the programme despite his political inclination.

    He said the coordinator should see challenges facing the leadership of amnesty as reason to do more as success comes with challenges.

    Dagogo said Gen. Boroh successfully brought discipline into the programme by ensuring that repentant agitators were not only reform but groomed for  leadership roles in the society, to ensure development of the region and beyond.

    The group urged the amnesty boss to strive to achieve more in capacity building for ex-militants, saying “he should not be distracted but remain focus while reaching out to affected youths, communities, states and traditional rulers in the region.

    “This assignment given to Gen. Boroh by Mr. President has proved that he (Boroh) has leadership capacity to turn things around, if given more political opportunity in serving his people and the nation. We, the youth in Southsouth, so much believe in his leadership style and humble nature and call on him to make up his mind for an elective office in future.

    “We are also calling on other appointees in the region to emulate Gen. Boroh’s humility in leadership, which we believe has paid off in living up to expectation in his assignment.”

    The APC youth group, however, called on stakeholders to cooperate with the leadership by giving peace a chance.

  • Boroh: rumour of sack untrue, baseless

    Boroh: rumour of sack untrue, baseless

    The Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), retired Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh, has described the news of his sack as untrue.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Boroh was sighted performing his duties  when a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Correspondent visited his office yesterday in Abuja.

    Gen. Boroh said he was neither sacked nor suspended from office by President Mohammadu Buhari.

    He said: “This story about my suspension and even sack has been off and on in the media but the truth is that I have not been sacked and no one should disrupt the relative prevailing peace in the Niger Delta region with such fake news. What is happening is the handiwork of political enemies and those who do not want the region to be peaceful. The rumour they are peddling is just rubbish and unfounded. Under my watch, the programme, candid speaking, has helped greatly to stabilise the region.”

    Gen. Boroh urged Niger Delta citizens to task themselves and take responsibilities of the region.

    “Every Niger Delta person in the nationhood of Nigeria, is that of brotherhood. Henceforth, we must refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of our history.

    “Rather, let’s embrace our heritage which defines our identities and values, ” he added.

  • Amnesty is stabilising Niger Delta, says Boroh

    Amnesty is stabilising Niger Delta, says Boroh

    The Presidential Amnesty programme is fulfilling its mandate of providing peace in the Niger Delta through its training and empowerment of ex-militants, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/ Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh has said.

    Gen. Boroh spoke at a meeting with stakeholders to analyse the programme journey so far.

    He said: “We have successfully trained 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 youths 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.”

    Gen. Boroh said 131 offshore  universities/institutions were engaged to  train1,723 delegate. 1,523 have graduated. The remaining 200 will graduate this year.

    He added that 1054 ex-militants have graduated from Nigerian universities and 2843 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.

    On his 2018 programme plans, Gen. Boroh stated that his office will continue to deepen its agricultural empowerment programme in line with Federal Government’s green alternative initiative and use it to create jobs for youths.

    He revealed that training of delegates has 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 p create additional 30,000 new jobs, thus making our Agricultural empowerment scheme to provide 80,000 new jobs.”

    The Presidential Amnesty Coordinator revealed that his office has concluded discussions with a trawler company, the Greek Fisheries Institute, to use the Burutu sea port in Delta State to train and engage 1000 ex-militants into commercial aquaculture fishing business.

  • Amnesty beneficiaries condemn attack on Boroh

    Amnesty beneficiaries condemn attack on Boroh

    Beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, studying in the United States, have expressed confidence in its Coordinator, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh.

    The beneficiaries, in a statement, said though things have not been rosy, Boroh has been faithful.

    The statement reads: “We, the students sponsored by the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the umbrella of the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (OSAPND), led by Brig.-Gen. Paul  Boroh (rtd), wishes to draw the attention of the public to the activity of faceless fraudsters in the United States of America, who are using the social media to spread mischievous information about our welfare as government-sponsored students, and activities of OSAPND under Boroh.

    “We wish to dissociate students from any attempt to tarnish the image of Nigeria in the US, through outright lies, falsehood and blackmail being peddled in the social media by a faceless group that has called on people to join them for a public demonstration against the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, at the White House.

    “We wish to put it on record that our allowances and tuition fees have been paid till September 2017, and the office has promised to pay up till November.

    “We thank President Buhari for his commitment and dedication to sustainable peace and development in the Niger Delta, through his support and continuation of the Presidential Amnesty programme. We also praise the able leadership of Gen. Boroh for the positive changes he has brought to bear on the programme, through prompt payment of our fees and allowances.

    “While it has not been all rosy, we note that despite the economic recession that Nigeria went through, it was still able to sponsor our education abroad and we are very grateful.”

  • Boroh: It’s duty of communities, govt, oil firms to provide jobs

    Boroh: It’s duty of communities, govt, oil firms to provide jobs

    The Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), has said it is the duty of communities, the Federal Government and oil companies to provide jobs for youths in the Niger Delta.

    A statement signed by Mr Owei Lakemfa, Head of Media PAP, quoted Gen. Boroh as speaking while addressing the chiefs, elders, women and youth groups of George Town, Okrika, Rivers State at the weekend.

    Gen. Boroh, also Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta, said 20 ex-militants were empowered in a cluster co-operative integrated farm by the government.

    According to him, the model farm, which was fully funded by the programme has 30 ponds, one ‘Run-off Earthen Pond,’ 5000 Bird Poultry, including Broiler and Layers, Free Range, Cropping and Processing Sections, Administration and Sales Office, 2 Feed Stores, 2 Implement Stores and one Control Room.

    The Coordinator told the beneficiaries that they have once in a life time opportunity not just to make a decent living for themselves and their families but also to employ a number of the unemployed.

    Gen. Boroh said the cluster farming would impact positively on the beneficiaries and assist them to be employers of labour.

    He said the beneficiaries were introduced to the fish smoking kiln and a multipurpose seafood processor to aid their businesses.

    According to the Coordinator, the introduction to a more effective and efficient technology of fish/seafood preservation and processing had a tremendous impact on their livelihood activities.

    He said the Amnesty Office would further empower the beneficiaries by handing over to them as a start off package, 1000 fingerlings to 2000 post fingerlings,  100 Point of Lay Birds and an additional 200 broilers, 10 Piglets  and a Crop Section: with  Cucumber, Pepper, Pumpkin and Okra.

    The presidential aide said the modern cluster farm for which the Rivers State Government has given a registration as “Okrika Agro Farmers 105 Cooperative and Investment and Credit Society Limited,” would be replicated in other parts of the region.

    Gen. Boroh also visited some individual aquaculture holdings in Okrika funded by PAP.

    Also, the George Town Traditional leader, Chief Akuro George, in his response at the meeting, thanked PAP under Boroh for extending “Federal presence” to George Town.

    George said the project has established a bond between the people and the Federal Government and called for a skills acquisition centre be established by the Amnesty Office in George Town to cater for unemployed youths.

    The traditional ruler, also a former First Vice President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), said “the problem of the Niger Delta is a collective challenge.”

    He urged other federal, state and local government agencies to collaborate for the development of the region and the country.

    The monarch appealed for the completion of roads in the town by the Federal Government intervention agency.

    The Songhai Farms, which trained the beneficiaries and helped them established the cluster farm, said it would spend the next three months to mentor the beneficiaries.

    Its General Manager, Mr Tammy Jaja, said the model farm is based on a zero-waste technology in which the use of waste materials in one section is a critical input in another section.

    The Chairman of the beneficiaries’ cooperative society, Mr Emmanuel Promise, thanked the Federal Government for giving them the opportunity to run a business of their own.

    The Amnesty Programme said it was committed to human capacity development among youths in the Niger Delta as a deliberate step to ensure reintegrate the 30,000 ex-agitators captured under the Amnesty programme.

    The programme, which started in 2009, had sponsored beneficiaries in various skills training in the areas of education and entrepreneurship, automobile engineering, auto electrical, auto manufacturing, auto maintenance, underwater welding, aviation, agriculture, tourism & hospitality and sports, among others.

  • Boroh advocates skills-driven curriculum for vocational centres

    Boroh advocates skills-driven curriculum for vocational centres

    The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Matters, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), has advocated for a well-articulated skills-driven curriculum for vocational training institutions in the country.

    Gen. Boroh, who is also the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    He said the curriculum would stimulate innovation and creativity, as well as provide platform of addressing unemployment in the country.

    The presidential aide called for synergy between the government and industries to develop standard work-based verification and continuous assessment of trainees.

    Gen. Boroh said an industry-driven vocational training would enhance the quality of vocational skills imparted to the youths based on the needs of the society.

    On the amnesty programme, the coordinator said it had raised the capacity of participants, with over 30,000 ex-agitators fully reintegrated into the society.

    He added that the programme, which started in 2009, had sponsored young agitators to obtain degrees and knowledge in various fields of human endeavour including engineering, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture, tourism, hospitality, sports and others.

    According to him, the programme has also helped to ensure peace and stability in the Niger Delta, which is being consolidated by the Federal Government to boost national economy.

    The World Habitat Ambassadors Foundation (WHAF)  will honour Gen Boroh for his humanitarian and philanthropic endeavours.

    Amb. Hillary Emoh, Principal Consultant of WHAF in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja, said other notable individuals would also be honoured on October 8 in Abuja.

    Emoh explained that the essence of the award was to honour and celebrate effort by outstanding individuals, organisations and government parastatal that had contributed to the growth and development of the society.

    “Others are Director-General, NOSDRA, Sir Peter Idabor, Hon Godwin Ebosa; Chairman, Board of the Delta Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

    “Georgia State Representative, Hon James Beverly from the U.S., Lady Charity Nwakolam Ohadiugha, President of ‘Creative Minds’, Martine Maignan, Founder, Prince Osisioma Foundation, Prince Onyeka Eze among others.” Emoh said.

  • Boroh to Niger Delta ex-agitators: help build economy

    Boroh to Niger Delta ex-agitators: help build economy

    The Federal Government has urged 200 Niger Delta ex-agitators, who graduated from the Innoson-Kiara Academy, Nnewi in Anambra, to use their skills positively to grow the economy.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd), spoke at the Batch ‘B’ graduation ceremony.

    A statement by the Academy Head, Media and Communication Department, Mr Piriye Kiyaramo, said the ex-agitators underwent a nine months intensive automobile course in automobile manufacturing, engineering and maintenance.

    Gen. Boroh commended the graduating ex-agitators for making President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government proud in their performance during the training.

    The special adviser said the entrepreneurship drive of the Presidential Amnesty Programme was geared toward creating an enabling environment for beneficiaries to develop their full potential in different vocational skills.

    “This is with a view to making you lead productive and creative lives in line with the ongoing reintegration process of 30,000 ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region.

    “The focus of the Presidential Amnesty Programme is to create the enabling environment for youths in the region, particularly the ex-agitators to have sustainable sources of livelihood as they reintegrate with their communities,” he said.

    The Chief Executive Officer of the academy, Mr Endi Ezengwa, said the trainees were exposed to practical automobile engineering works during their practical training at the factory.

    Ezengwa said of the 199 candidates that sat for the National Technical Certificate (NTC) from the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, 195 bagged distinctions while four others made credits.

    He said that Innoson Car Manufacturing Company was willing to absorb the graduands, with a salary of N60, 000 which would be reviewed upwards at the end of a probation period of one year.

    Ezengwa urged the state governments in the Niger Delta  to create an enabling environment for the graduands to put into practice the skills they have acquired from the academy.

    “We encourage the respective state governors to actively engage us to establish mini-automobile factories in the Niger Delta area,” he added.

    He commended Boroh for his vision and sincerity in driving the youth empowerment scheme through various vocational trainings, describing him as a “focused man, who has his people at heart”.

    Ezengwa said the course covered automobile manufacturing, auto maintenance, auto mechanical, auto electrical, auto painting, welding, among other aspects of the automobile engineering production chain.

    He noted that the Amnesty Office under Gen. Boroh had introduced innovative approach to fill the manpower gaps in critical skills among youths in the Niger Delta.

    The Project Coordinator and representative of the Vendor, Mr Momoh Aminu, explained that the rationale for the training was to ensure that beneficiaries were equipped with marketable skills.

    “The idea had been for everyone that participates in the training to have mastery of a particular area and then everybody now works compositely toward the end product.

    “So far, the trainees have been exceptional because within a short period they have been able to display capacity in assimilating the theory and practical aspects of the training and this is really good for Nigeria.

    “At the end of the day, we will be talking about people, who are armed with critical technical skills which the country needs, not just for the development of the Niger Delta area, but for Nigeria in general,” he stressed.

    Speaking on behalf of the ex- agitators, President of the trainees, Mr Raphael Ajalaja, expressed satisfaction with the leadership of Gen. Boroh, especially the manner he handled the programme.

    Ajalaja also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for giving them such opportunity to be trained at the centre.

    Another graduate, Miss Gloria Edward, said the automobile training had developed their capacity to several business opportunities.

    Edward urged the Amnesty Coordinator to empower them at the end of the programme to enable them establish their automobile businesses.

    The high point of the ceremony was the presentation of three vehicles; 18-seater bus, 4×4 wheel truck and a 32-seater bus assembled from the scratch to the finish by the ex-agitators.

  • Boroh: Amnesty now in re-integration stage

    Boroh: Amnesty now in re-integration stage

    SPECIAL Adviser to the President on Niger Delta,Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), has said the programme is now in the third phase; re-integration, after disarmament and demobilisation.

    He spoke after receiving the Niger Delta Ambassador of Peace Award ‘’for his pragmatic peace-building initiatives’’ since assuming office two years ago, noting that there’s no amount too much to achieve peace in the region.

    Conferring the award, Chairman, Ondo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. James Sowole, (NUJ), described Gen. Boroh as Mr. Peace in the Niger Delta.

    The ceremony was a side event of the Second Niger Delta Council Meeting in Akure, Ondo State capital.

    Gen. Boroh, also coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, dedicated the award to God.

    He thanked the council for finding him worthy for recognition at a time the region is being stabilised  for infrastructural development.

    The presidential aide noted that the programme

    The Amnesty chief inspected facilities at the Federal Government’s vocational training centre in Agadabga Obon-Arogbo, Ese-Odo Local Government Area.

    Gen. Boroh said President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to the region’s peace and infrastructural development has built confidence in the people.

    The coordinator restated his commitment to continue with the training and empowerment of delegates.

    He promised to engage qualified beneficiaries as instructors and teachers at the centre and in community schools.

    Gen. Boroh assured the people that his office would meaningfully engage youths in the region, particularly beneficiaries.

    He added that the Federal Government will bring comfort to the grassroots through “quick impact projects”, to address residents’ immediate needs.

    The coordinator listed these as potable water, health centres, etc., to create direct impact on rural dwellers.

    Spokesman of Agadagba Obon Joweigha Eliseri sought intervention in the completion of abandoned projects, construction of a link bridge, employment of community graduates, power and health centre.

    He thanked the Amnesty coordinator and presidential aide for the visit.

    Facility manager Mr Kekemeke Oju briefed the special adviser on the work done at the centre, saying the vocational centre was aimed at enhancing capacity building in oil and gas.

    Oju said equipment to enhance safety drilling operations and other areas were available at the centre.

    According to him, with these equipment, the centre can undertake vocational training outside oil and gas.

    The presidential aide was conducted round the centre by a prominent ex-agitator, Chief Bibopre Ajube, popularly known as “shoot at sight”.