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Tag: Otuaro

  • Otuaro to Niger Delta: support Tinubu’s administration

    Otuaro to Niger Delta: support Tinubu’s administration

    The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has called on all stakeholders in the Niger Delta to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    While felicitating with Tinubu at 73, Otuaro described the President as a national treasure, who had made invaluable contributions to the growth of democratic governance in the country.

    He said it was a beautiful thing that the President, a patriot with sterling democratic credentials, is at the helm of affairs, providing quality and historic leadership at a critical moment in the nation’s democratic journey.

    He said that the President came with a clear vision of what he wanted for Nigerians and had made unrelenting efforts to make the country a better place since his emergence in 2023.

    He commended the President for taking the decisive step to remove the fuel subsidy, which he said had become a heavy burden to Nigerians and the country.

    The Amnesty Boss thanked the President for his genuine, unwavering, sustained fatherly support for the sustenance of peace, security and development in the Niger Delta.

    He stressed that  the President’s love for the people of the Niger Delta was the reason behind the signing into an act  the bill establishing the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, Delta State, and the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoniland; the South South Development Commission and the the ongoing construction of  Coastal Road including sustained support for the various agencies in the region.

    He also said that the President had replicated same in other regions as the father of the nation.

    Otuaro particularly thanked the President for his fatherly encouragement and unflinching financial commitments for the operations of the PAP.

    He stressed that the President demonstrated his love for the Niger Delta in various ways through his actions and deserved the support of the people of the region.

    He used the occasion of the President’s birthday to call on the people of the Niger Delta to reciprocate the good work of the President by giving him and his administration their support.

    While joining millions of Nigerians and all men of good conscience to celebrate the President, he prayed God to continue to sustain him in good health to continue to deliver on his electoral promises to Nigerians.

  • Group reiterates Tompolo’s, Otuaro’s commitment to N’Delta development

    Group reiterates Tompolo’s, Otuaro’s commitment to N’Delta development

    A group, Niger-Delta Renaissance Network, has reiterated the commitment of Government Tompolo, CEO of Tantita Security Company, and Dennis Otuaro, Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, to protecting Nigeria’s oil pipelines and dedication to developing initiatives that enhance the lives of ex-agitators.

    The group disassociated Tompolo and Otuaro from the baseless accusations in a viral video, noting that these allegations are not only unfounded but are also a calculated attempt to tarnish their reputations 

    The spokesman Gabriel Aniete said: “It is evident that the individual behind these accusations is being sponsored by oil bunkers and thieves in the Niger Delta who aim to undermine the integrity of Tompolo, Dennis, and others. 

    “Since being contracted to provide security services around the nation’s oil pipelines, Tantita Security Company has successfully apprehended countless oil bunkers and crude oil thieves, significantly improving oil production and ensuring that Nigeria meets its OPEC quota.

    “Furthermore, under Dennis Otuaro’s leadership of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, the Niger Delta has witnessed a period of relative peace. The programme has played a significant role in training and retraining numerous ex-agitators, transforming them into responsible citizens who actively contribute to national development.

    “The recent media attacks and character assassination of Tompolo, Dennis Otuaro, and others come as no surprise. Their effective management of oil pipelines and the Presidential Amnesty Programme has drawn envy from forces who previously benefited from oil bunkering activities and fraudulent schemes within the amnesty programme.

    “We call on those sponsoring these character assassinations to desist immediately. It is imperative to reemphasize the commitment of Tompolo and Tantita to protecting Nigeria’s oil pipelines, as well as Dennis Otuaro’s dedication to developing initiatives that enhance the lives of ex-agitators.”

  • Otuaro reaffirms commitment to strengthening peace, security in Niger Delta

    Otuaro reaffirms commitment to strengthening peace, security in Niger Delta

    The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme(PAP), Chief Dennis Brutu Otuaro, has reaffirmed commitment to peace, security, and economic empowerment in the Niger Delta as he marked his first year anniversary in office.

    He made the reaffirmation during a courtesy visit by the Niger Delta Peace & Stability Forum, led by Mr. Godfrey Tari Pondi, Group General Manager of Tantita Security Services and a security expert, accompanied by Chief Benjamin Ekeremo, Chief Otegha Ayebi, Mr. Benaebi Adowei, Mr. Seiyefa Ekpemupolo, Mr. Peter Uduboh, Mr Abisco Darling, Mr Super Layefa Kamboh.

    Otuaro highlighted the progress made in security, stability, and human capacity development, emphasising that the PAP has moved beyond stipends to focus on long- term rehabilitation and reintegration goals.

    He clarified that stipends are merely a transitional phase, and the programme is now dedicated to sustainable empowerment and stakeholder engagement to ensure lasting peace and economic opportunities for all affected communities in the Niger Delta.

    Speaking on behalf of the Forum, Mr. Tari Pondi expressed gratitude towards the Administrator’s leadership and reaffirmed his commitment to peace and security in the region.

    “We have remained dedicated to securing the Niger Delta, even without direct engagement with the PAP office. Our priority has always been peace, stability, and the protection of our people,” he stated.

    He also commended the PAP Administrator, on the recent deployment of over 2,500 students to various universities home and abroad.

    He further stressed the urgent need for renewed disarmament efforts, revealing that there are more weapons in circulation today than were collected during the original amnesty process. 

    “The struggle has evolved, and while we have achieved peace, there is still work to be done,” he added.

    In his response,Administrator of PAP lauded Tantita company, which currently employs over 30,000 individuals, for its role in securing vital oil infrastructure and preventing illegal activities in the region. 

    He commended the forum for its dedication to peace building and regional security. 

    Dr. Otuaro further outlined plans to expand vocational training, enhance economic opportunities for women, and support small businesses, stressing that long-term development, rather than short-term stipends, will create lasting change in the region.

    Calling for continued collaboration among security agencies, community leaders, and development partners to ensure the sustainable success of the programme,.

    Otuaro emphasized that no individual or group can hold the Niger Delta and the Presidential Amnesty Programme to ransom, urrging stakeholders to remain actively engaged in peace-building and development efforts. 

    Reaffirming his administration’s

    commitment, he declared, “this journey is far from over. Together, we will build a peaceful, stable, and economically empowered Niger Delta.”

  • Otuaro vows to ensure sustainable peace, security In Niger Delta

    Otuaro vows to ensure sustainable peace, security In Niger Delta

    The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dennis Otuaro, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring sustainable peace and security to ensure advancement of economic empowerment and human capital development of the Niger Delta region.

    He spoke when a delegation of the Niger Delta Peace and Stability Forum, led by Godfrey Pondi, who is also a security expert and Group General Manager of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Other members of the delegation were Chief Benjamin Ekeremo, Chief Otegha Ayebi, Mr Benaebi Adowei, Mr Seiyefa Ekpemupolo, Mr Peter Uduboh, Mr Abisco Darling, Mr Super Layefa Kamboh.

    Otuaro in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, clarified that the PAP had moved beyond payment of monthly stipends to the ex-agitators to focus on the implementation of the reintegration and rehabilitation phase of the programme’s mandate.

    The PAP boss noted that the programme, under his innovative leadership in the past one year achieved a lot through several deliberate initiatives designed to enhance sustainable empowerment and stakeholder engagement towards lasting peace and economic opportunities for all impacted communities in the overall interest of national security and stability. 

    He said: “We have done and achieved a lot, especially in the areas of national security, stability and human development, because those are the key areas of this programme. Most times some of our people confuse this our programme; they think that this whole programme is all about stipends. The programme goes beyond that. Stipend is just an allowance.

    “In fact, if you look at the way the programme was drawn, it is a transit allowance and that transit period is over. We are now facing reintegration and rehabilitation of our people and its not only those that dropped arms that are going to be rehabilitated or rather reintegrated to the society. All of us in the Niger Delta are victims, including and mothers. So it’s time for us to rebuild the region.”

    Otuaro outlined plans to expand vocational training, enhance economic opportunities for women, and support small-scale businesses, stressing that long-term development rather than short-term stipends would create lasting change in the region.

    He praised Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited for its vital role in securing critical national economic assets and employing over 30,000 individuals from the Niger Delta to curb illegal oil bunkering activities in the region.

    According to him, the security expertise efficiently demonstrated by Tantita in the discharge of its onerous task has been responsible for the increase in oil and gas revenues, describing the achievements of the foremost private security firm as huge.

    He also commended members of the Niger Delta Peace and Stability Forum for working silently behind the scene for the peace, security and stability of the region without expecting any personal gains in return.

    While stating that no individual or groups could hold the Niger Delta and the PAP to ransom, he urged stakeholders to remain actively engaged in the peace-building process and development efforts in the interest of the region and the country.

    Otuaro called for continued collaboration among security agencies, community leaders and development partners

    He said: “Tantita security company is a company that has employed over 30,000 direct employees, not those under some contractors. These 30,000 individuals are all from Niger Delta. They are not ghost workers; they are physical human beings. All they are doing is protecting critical government infrastructure, which is why we, too, are engaging our people that lay down their arms that are beneficiaries of the programme.

    Read Also: Niger Delta women condemn ‘campaigns of calumny’ against Otuaro, Tompolo

    “Let me also say this: in the Niger Delta, if anything happens today and you have the contact of the Niger Delta Peace and Stability Forum, anywhere anything happens, they will help. They have been working selflessly; and for them it is selfless service they have been doing. They will always do because it’s like their calling, and we need to appreciate all of them here. This journey is far from over. Together, we will build a peaceful, stable, and economically empowered Niger Delta.”

    The leader of the group, Godfrey Pondi, expressed support for Otuaro’s able leadership and lauded his deployment of over 2,500 PAP scholarship students for the 2024/2025 academic session, saying it shows his commitment to the region’s peace, security, stability and human capital development.

    However, the security expert stressed the urgent need for renewed disarmament process as there are more weapons in circulation in the Niger Delta than were collected after the proclamation of amnesty by the Federal Government.

    “We have remained dedicated to securing the Niger Delta even without direct engagement with the PAP Office. Our priority has always been peace, stability, and the protection of our people. The struggle has evolved, and while we have achieved peace, there is still work to be done,” Pondi said.

  • Alleged fund misappropriation against PAP boss Otuaro politically motivated — Ex-militant leaders

    Alleged fund misappropriation against PAP boss Otuaro politically motivated — Ex-militant leaders

    Two ex-militant groups -the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators and the Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Peace Movement Forum- have described a recent online publication against the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Otuaru, as baseless and politically motivated.

    The publication on Saturday, February 8, 2025 titled ‘Ex-militants petition EFCC over alleged misappropriation’, claimed that Otuaro was misappropriating funds meant for the amnesty programme.

    But, a statement in Yenagoa jointly signed by Comrade Aso Tambou, National Leader of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators and Comrade John Esuku, National  President of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators Peace Movement Forum, said those behind the so-called petition were a faceless group.

    The statement said the use of the picture of Comrade John Esuku in the publication was with the intention to discredit him and also cause disaffection between him and Otuaro.

    The statement asserted that the allegations against Otuaro were baseless, frivolous and unsubstantiated, and therefore enjoined the general public to discountenance them.

    The statement read in part: “However, these allegations are not only false, but appear to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish Otuaro’s image and undermine the progress made so far by the amnesty initiative.

    “Contrary to the claims made in their petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), there is no evidence to suggest that funds allocated to the PAP have been misused. 

    “The accusations of contract awards to ‘moribund companies’ lack factual backing and seem to be politically motivated, orchestrated by individuals who seek to derail the ongoing development efforts in the Niger Delta.

    “It is important to note that the PAP, under the leadership of Dr. Otuaro has remained committed to its mandate of rehabilitating and reintegrating ex-agitators, ensuring transparency in its operations. 

    “The attempt to discredit his leadership comes at a time when significant strides have been made in empowering former militants and promoting peace in the region.”

    The statement noted that if there were any genuine concerns regarding the programme, due process should have been followed in addressing them rather than resorting to media trials and threats of protests.

    “Chief Dennis Otuaro remains focused on his responsibilities and will not be distracted by unfounded accusations. Any calls for investigation should be based on verifiable facts rather than mere speculation and politically driven agendas,” the statement advised.

  • Ex-agitators score PAP boss, Otuaro, high on performance 

    Ex-agitators score PAP boss, Otuaro, high on performance 

    Ex-agitators from the Niger Delta region have applauded the performance of the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dennis Otuaro, and called on all stakeholders in the region to keep supporting him.

    The ex-agitators, who met in Port Harcourt at the weekend to review the performance of PAP under Otuaro since his appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, said the administrator’s actions and achievements were in line with the mandate of PAP.

    The meeting was at the instance of the National Chairman of First Phase Ex-Agitators, His Royal Highness Henry Binidodogha, aka Egbeme one, the king of Ofunama kingdom and the Secretary-General, First Phase Ex-agitators, Gen. Nature Dumale Kiegha.

    Speaking for the ex-agitators after the meeting, King Binidodogha said they were particularly happy that in less than one year of his appointment had successfully deployed 1,700 students in different tertiary institutions under the PAP Scholarship Scheme.

    He said Otuaro also ensured that 10 scholarship students in special fields of study were sent to foreign institutions in the UK, USA and Canada in his quest to develop the needed critical manpower in the region.

    The king said: “We have also seen results in education this period. Under Otuaro without the usual rancour, protests and other crisis,  316 scholarship students graduated from their various universities. About 41 of them also graduated from the Nigerian Law School. 

    “We also noticed that 10 foreign scholarship students completed their studies. In time past, we had students protesting lack of logistics non-payment of school fees bringing embarrassment and shame to the scheme. But under Otuaro students only face their studies because they know that their logistics, welfare and fees will be paid on time”.

    He said the ex-agitators also reviewed the handling of verification and orientation exercises under the current administrator and discovered that 1,594 scholarship students in 122 institutions were verified and participated in orientation exercises in line with the students charter and formal education policies.

    “We also discovered in our review that PAP under Otuaro has a way of ensuring quality and standard for its scholarship students by constantly keeping in touch with the universities. 

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    “For instance, PAP’s delegation inspected facilities at six universities, including Nigerian Maritime University, Gregory University among others to ensure quality standards. So, they are always on ground to monitor situations”, he said.

     King Binidodogha said Otuaro ensured Gender balance in deployment of scholarship students adding that through constant verification, Otuaro discovered that 16 students absconded from their programmes and saved N41million for PAP.

    In his remarks, the Secretary-General, First Phase Ex-agitators Gen. Nature Dumale Kiegha, said Otuaro’s constant engagement with all the stakeholders in the region had helped to deepen the peace in the Niger Delta region.

    He said the PAP boss had maintained constant interactions with critical stakeholders such as youths, traditional rulers, women groups and community leaders and ensured that PAP events were held within the Niger Delta region.

    The king called on all stakeholders in the region to support Otuaro to enable him achieve more feats and warned against any attempt to pull him down.

    Nature acknowledged the support of President Tinubu for the programme through his National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and appealed to the President to allocate more funds to PAP.

  • PAP will prioritise scholarship, welfare of students studying in Nigeria, abroad – Otuaro

    PAP will prioritise scholarship, welfare of students studying in Nigeria, abroad – Otuaro

    The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr Dennis Otuaro, has said he will continually prioritise the scholarship and welfare of students studying in Nigerian and foreign universities under the ongoing reintegration phase of the programme.

    He also encouraged the students under the programme’s foreign scholarship scheme to justify the Federal Government’s investment in them by taking their studies seriously.

    Otuaro stated this during his meeting with the PAP scholarship students currently studying in the United Kingdom.

    In a statement by his special assistant on media, Igoniko Oduma, yesterday, Otuaro said that much was expected from the students in their academic performance to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education.

    He said the support for scholarship students was in tandem with the vision of President Bola Tinubu for the peace, security, stability, and socio-economic development of the Niger Delta, as encapsulated in his Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Otuaro stated that Tinubu was delighted by the success stories and the sterling academic performances of the programme’s scholarship students at home and abroad.

    He said the president, encouraged by the excellent academic feats, had expressed a strong commitment to supporting the Office to deepen initiatives in educational and vocational training for youths in the region.

    He thanked the President for his favourable disposition to the Office and his efforts to foster the transformation of the region through his Renewed Hope Agenda.

    Otuaro, therefore, urged the students to be good ambassadors of the PAP, their respective communities, the Niger Delta and the federal government, by shunning negative acts that would bring a bad reputation to the country as a whole.

    Otuaro, while addressing the students, said: “As PAP scholarship students abroad, it is very important that you study hard and aim to make the best grades in your academics.

    “That is what you have been sent here to do, and that is what you are here to do and nothing else. Nigeria deserves nothing less than good conduct and sterling academic performances from you.

    “We will always prioritise your scholarship and welfare because this is one avenue through which we can achieve our goal of closing the existing gap in the human capital development of our region.

    “Let me take this opportunity to inform you that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very happy with the fact that PAP scholarship students are making first-class and second-class upper divisions in various courses of study, particularly in the sciences, engineering, and clinical sciences.

    “Therefore, the Niger Delta is properly captured in Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which is why he is very supportive of the Office in terms of the educational and vocational programmes we carry out to deepen the reintegration phase of the programme for the benefit of our people.

    Read Also: Tinubu has political will to develop Niger Delta, says Otuaro

    “We are immensely grateful to Mr President, and that is why I urge you all to take your studies seriously and don’t disappoint the federal government, the PAP Office, and the Niger Delta region where you come from.”

    In their reaction, the students expressed gratitude to the PAP boss for visiting them and prioritizing their scholarship and welfare.

    They are particularly happy that the PAP boss decided to personally visit them which is indicative of the government’s seriousness to their education and welfare.

    They promised to be good ambassadors and to do their best to justify the investment in their education and future.

  • Otuaro lauds human capital development of PAP beneficiaries

    Otuaro lauds human capital development of PAP beneficiaries

    Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has assured the management of the Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State, of the Programme’s readiness to collaborate in addressing the shortage of medical professionals in the Niger Delta region.

    During the visit to BMU on Friday, May 10, 2024, Otuaro emphasized the gap in medical personnel in the Niger Delta region and highlighted human capital development as a major objective of the Amnesty Programme. 

    He stated that the Amnesty Programme Office and the university could strengthen their partnership to train more students in critical areas of the health sector. This visit was part of Otuaro’s tour of tertiary institutions, which included Igbenedion University and Benson Idahosa University in Edo State as well as Western Delta University in Oghara, Edwin Clark University in Kiagbodo, and Michael and Cecelia Ibru University in Ughelli, all in Delta State.

    In addition, Chief Dennis Otuaro, PhD, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, demonstrated his dedication to fostering collaboration and dialogue by engaging critical stakeholders in the education sector and beyond. He visited Benin City, Edo State, where he paid a courtesy call to Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the founder of Igbinedion University, Okada, and his son, Chief Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion, former governor of Edo State (1999-2007), at their residence.

    The visit, which took place on Wednesday, May 8, was marked by warm exchanges and discussions on matters of mutual interest. Chief Otuaro expressed gratitude for the longstanding contributions of the Igbinedion family to education and governance in Nigeria, while the Igbinedion family expressed their appreciation for the Administrator’s commitment to fostering peace and development through the Amnesty Programme.

  • Tinubu replaces Ndiomu with Otuaro as PAP Administrator

    Tinubu replaces Ndiomu with Otuaro as PAP Administrator

    President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Dennis Otuaro as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

    Otuaro will be replacing Maj. Gen. Barry Ndiomu (Rtd), who had served as Interim Administrator of the programme since September 2022.

    Otuaro’s appointment was announced Thursday evening in a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

    “President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro as Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).

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    “Dr. Otuaro holds a PhD in Comparative Politics & Development Studies; an MSc in Public Administration, and a BSc in Education.

    “He had previously served as a top-level executive of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with a surfeit of experience across multiple sectors, including infrastructure development, security, environmental remediation, as well as oil and gas.

    “The President anticipates that the new Administrator will bring his requisite experience and know-how to this role to revamp the Amnesty Programme and advance the realization of its founding purpose and vision,” the statement reads.