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Tag: Presidential Amnesty Programme

  • I received scanty handover note with many unanswered questions – Dokubo

    Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta, Prof Charles Dokubo, has described the handover note he received from his predecessor as “a maze of words and figures that left many questions unanswered.”

    He said his resolve to make meaning out of the “scanty” handover note and redirect the course of the Amnesty Programme informed his decision to set up a Special Review Committee made up of four experts outside the Amnesty office and four senior officials that worked with his predecessor.

    The members of the committee include Prof. Ayibaemi Spiff, Chief Otonye Amachree, Mr. Unyime Isong Eyo, Ms. Azizat Muhammed, the Director of Finance and Accounts, the Director of Procurement, Director of Administration and the Head of Audit.

    Dokubo replaced Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (Rtd.), who was removed over allegations of corruption and is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    Speaking Thursday in Abuja at an interactive session with newsmen, Dokubo said the committee, which was inaugurated before the media parley, is at liberty to not on dissect the handover note but also has full authority and mandate to “take oral depositions or seek clarifications from any person or persons including current departmental heads.”

    He said: “I came into this office with a brief that is very scanty. I received the handover note of my predecessor and written briefs of departmental heads. I have, of course, taken my time to carefully go through the handover note and the departmental briefs. The documents contain a maze of words and figures. I dare say, however, that these documents left lots of questions unanswered. So I have set up a committee to give me a guide that would take the Amnesty Programme to a different level.”

    On his mandate, Dokubo said he would focus more on the reintegration aspect of the programme, adding that he would not accommodate new entrants into the programme which should be winding down in due course.

    “My focus is on reintegration. How do we get jobs for those who have been trained here such that they would no longer live on stipends? I wish to use the opportunity of the inauguration of the committee to underscore the compelling need to recalibrate and reboot the Amnesty Programme to meet current realities in the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large”, he said.

    The terms of reference of the committee include, among others, to take a critical look at the handover note and ascertain the current status of the programme; ascertain current level of compliance with the original mandate of the programme; and review all contracts awarded by the Amnesty Office since 2015 with a view to determine the levels of word done, monies paid, beneficiaries and extent of work done and recommend a payment schedule for only those qualified to be paid.

    The committee, he noted, has two weeks within which to submit its report, noting that noting that the member should also look into the data base of the Amnesty Office to establish its sanctity, carry out a personnel audit of the staff and their suitability for the positions they currently occupy and determine the real status of all ongoing vocational, educational and post-training empowerment programmes of the office within and outside the country.

    Read Also: Ex-militants allege denial of amnesty benefits, stipends

  • Ex-militants urge Dokubo to sanitise Amnesty office

    Niger Delta ex-militant leaders on Tuesday warned the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Charles Dokubo, against saboteurs and corrupt employees in the Amnesty Office.

    The ex-agitators under the auspices of the Niger Delta Reformed Ex-agitators Association (NDREA)  told Dokubo that such corrupt and selfish elements were behind the downfall of his predecessor, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh (retd).

    They appealed to him to identify and remove bad eggs from the office to enable the scheme actualise its objectives.

    The former militant leaders, who were drawn from the nine Niger Delta states, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing a scholar, technocrat and administrator to coordinate the scheme.

    But they insisted that some highly placed persons were in the habit of misleading coordinators of the scheme by creating impediments to effective implementation of the programme.

    The ex-militants, in a statement signed by their National President, ‘General’ Ebiowe Ayado, expressed confidence in the ability of Dokubo to deal with the threats.

    The statement said: “However, we hereby call on him to beware of the bad eggs in the Presidential Amnesty Office that misled his predecessor and created impediments for the smooth and effective implementation of the mandate of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    “He should weed off the bad eggs and inject fresh blood into the programme and engage very patriotic and committed persons as his aides to enable him actualise his mandate.

    “He should do away with all the aides that misled the former Special Adviser, Paul Boroh and appoint only very honest and dedicated aides to help him succeed in his new assignment.

    “He should never recycle or engage all those who have questions bothering on corruption and other illegalities to answer under his predecessor.”

     

     

  • Ex-militants allege denial of amnesty benefits, stipends

    A group of Niger Delta ex-militants, on Thursday, lamented moves in the Amnesty Office to deny them their stipends and other benefits.

    The ex-agitators, who fell under the third phase Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) , urged the current Coordinator of the programme, Prof. Charles Dokubo, to investigate their complaints and resolve their problem.

    The leader of the group identified simply as ‘General’ Cairo, a.k.a Esenatebe appealed to the Federal Government to consider their travails with a sense of urgency and seriousness.

    He said: “It is something of shame and shock that since the third phase embraced the Federal Government Amnesty Programme those of the third phase have been neglected and have become objects of pity”.

    The former warlord advised Dokubo to learn from the mistakes of his predecessor, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), in order to realise the objectives of the scheme.

    He recalled that his group, the Cairo Group, stormed the National Assembly on November 1, 2017, for a protest against Boroh and submitted a petition to the lawmakers.

    He said the petitions detailing injustices done them by the amnesty office were also sent to the Human Rights Commission, Amnesty International and the Presidency.

    Cairo insisted that if the current leadership failed to address their matter,his group would also embark on another round of protest.

    He said: “The Federal Government Amnesty programme was solely created for the Ijaw youths and other youths in the Niger Delta region, but not for people in northern, western and the eastern parts of the country.

    “We also called for the sacking of non-Niger Deltans from the programme because they have become a stumbling block for human capacity development and the need for all-round development of the region.

    “We have been shortchanged in the allocation of slots. We, therefore appeal for the payment of 1000 slots already approved for the Cairo Group because there are provision and appropriation in the 2018 budget in that regard”.

    He insisted that if their request were not considered, they would embark on a peaceful protest to the National Assembly against their marginalization.

     

  • 28 jobless youths become poultry farmers in Bayelsa

    The retired Brigadier-General, Paul Boroh is no longer the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). He was recently rested by President Muhammadu Buhari. But Boroh will always be remembered for introducing agricultural revolution into the programmes of the amnesty office.

    In fact, many ex-agitators benefitted from various trainings on different aspects of agriculture. Just before he was fired, about 28 beneficiaries graduated from the Evagreen Ventures where they learnt the rudiments of poultry farming. For about a week beginning from March 4th to 10th, the trainees were camped in the farm.

    The Director of Evagreen Ventures, Bidi Emmanuel, said the delegates were selected and sent to the farm by the amnesty office. He said the training was aimed at making the beneficiaries self-sufficient to stop them from relying on stipends from the government.

    He said: “The essence of the training is just to encourage them on how to be self-reliant and not necessarily rely on stipends. It is a life-sustaining training. Though the period is short, with what they’ve gained, they could start somewhere and amnesty has also asked us to empower them after now”.

    Emmanuel said when the trainees arrived the farm, most of them were pessimistic and doubted their ability to start and run a successful business. But at the end if the training, he said they all became optimistic and willing to apply their knowledge.

    He also added that all the beneficiaries were issued certificates to signify their successful completion of their programme. “We expect them after now to become a potential farmer by ensuring that they put what they have learnt into practice, and later follow them up to ensure that the proper thing is done”, he said.

    After the training, questions were raised on how the participants would be empowered to practise their trade. Emmanuel, however, said there was nothing to worry about as everything had been worked out by the amnesty office.

    Indeed, the participants commended the office for the training and praised the facilitators, who taught them how to fish through poultry farming. They pledged to utilize the opportunity and their starter packs to become successful farmers.

    One of the beneficiaries, Tom Austin, said he was interested in growing and selling browsers. He said he paid attention on techniques of growing broilers following the market needs of chicken.

  • Sack rumours meant to distract Boroh, says Amnesty Office

    Sack rumours meant to distract Boroh, says Amnesty Office

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme yesterday said rumours of the sack of its coordinator, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh were aimed at diverting his attention from the assignment given him by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The agency, in a statement, said Gen. Boroh would consolidate on the peace in the Niger Delta.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Presidential Amnesty Office has been drawn to rumours that its Coordinator, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (Rtd)  who is also the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta has been relieved of his duties. There is no iota of truth in these rumours as General Boroh remains at his duty posts carrying out the duties and tasks assigned him by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR who appointed him.

    “The mischievous rumours are calculated to distract General Boroh and divert the attention of the Presidential Amnesty Office from its mandate of sustainably reintegrating the Beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme, enhancing human capital development, building and ensuring peace in the Niger Delta to allow for investment and the development of the Region.

    “Indeed the Presidential Amnesty Office under General Boroh in collaboration with other strategic partners and government agencies has been so proactive and efficient.”

  • Cattle colonies: No Niger Delta land will be used for such – PANDEF

    Cattle colonies: No Niger Delta land will be used for such – PANDEF

    The South-South region of the country has frontally rejected the proposed cattle colonies being proposed by the federal government as its solution to the herdsmen menace, saying no land in the region would be available for such.

    Leaders, elders, opinion molders, traditional rulers and political leadership of the region, at a conference held on the platform of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum ( PANDEF ), in the country home of Ijaw national Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, in Kiagbodo, Burutu council area of Delta state yesterday, reached the conclusion.

    Besides the rejection of federal government’s cattle colonies plan, the conference also frowned at the continued neglect of the oil-rich region by the current administration, particularly the refusal of government to address the 16-point demand presented to it since November 2016.

    The conference, which was chaired by the Convener of the PANDEF, Chief Edwin Clark, expressed solidarity with the people and government of Benue state over the bloody New Year day massacre, reportedly carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen, to which more than 70 lives were lost.

    It, however, advised the federal government to handle the festering Fulani herdsmen’s issue as a delicate one, admonishing further that the issue of livestock farming should be situated in the commercial realm where it belongs.

    “Expressed solidarity with the people of Benue State and other parts of the country where communities have suffered untold menace and brutality in the hands of Fulani herdsmen.

    Rejected the idea of setting up Cattle Colonies around the country and advised the federal government to handle this sensitive matter with tact and treat the issue of animal husbandry as commercial transaction which should be left in the hands of relevant stakeholders.

    Emphasized that no Niger Delta land will be available for such cattle colonies”, the conference said.

    On the situation of things in the region, besides the displeasure expressed on the refusal of government to attend to issues concerning the region, it also called for the sustenance of the Amnesty Programme, which it said had the capacity to keep the region peaceful.

    “Noted with concern the slow pace with which the Federal Government continues to handle matters pertaining to the Niger Delta, especially the implementation of the 16-point agenda submitted since the 1st of November 2016.

    “Condemned, in particular, the continued refusal of international and national oil companies to show presence in the Niger Delta, including moving their operational and administrative offices to the region. Noted also with, grave concern, the continued delay in the completion of the East-West road and the underfunding of its implementation.

    “Expressed worry over the fact that plans are being concluded to issue licenses to modular refineries without corresponding participation from stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

    This notwithstanding, calls on various Niger Delta peoples and communities, especially, the youths and various aggrieved groups to continue to exercise patience and allow PANDEF and its other political leaders to continue dialogue with the federal Government.

    “Calls on Niger Delta Political leaders and leadership of intervention agencies such as NDDC, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to show greater accountability in managing resources allocated for various programmes.

    “Reaffirms its confidence that the Presidential Amnesty Programme is a veritable tool for maintaining peace in the region. Took decision to send high delegation to the FG to discuss issues pertaining to the Amnesty programme and its continuation”, the conference concluded.

  • Gen. Boroh describes rumour of sack as untrue, baseless

    Gen. Boroh describes rumour of sack as 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 NAN Correspondent visited his office on Wednesday in Abuja.

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

    News of  Boroh’s alleged dismissal had been making the round, especially on the social media and online news platforms.

    According to Boroh, “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,” he said.

    Boroh said the presidential amnesty programme had achieved great things because of the understanding between the various ministries and the ex-agitators, particularly their leaders beecause I deal with them through their leaders.”

    The Coordinator said all hands must be on deck for the current peace experienced in the Niger Delta region to be sustained.

    He said constant engagements with the stakeholders and the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that the ex agitators were well catered for is the key to the current ceasefire being experienced in the region.

    Commenting  on the need for the de-radicalization of the former agitators before reintegration, the amnesty boss said its one of the key components of the scheme.

    Boroh, however, 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. (NAN)

  • No alternative to peace in Niger Delta – Boroh

    No alternative to peace in Niger Delta – Boroh

    The Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme and Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta, Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.), at the weekend, insisted that only sustained peace would develop the Niger Delta region.

    He implored agitators in the creeks to come out and embrace peace to clear vestiges of violence and sustain developmental efforts of the government in the region

    Boroh, who was represented by one of his special advisers, Maj. Martins Abdul (retd.), spoke in Yenagoa on Monday during the fourth edition of Miss Peace Bayelsa Beauty Pageant 2017 and Bayelsa Peace Awards organised by PGR Entertainment.

    The amnesty boss, who received a Distinguished Advocate of Peace Award at the occasion, praised the organisers of the pageant for putting the event together at a time the country and the world were in need of peace.

    Boroh said: ”The pageant is very timely because right now, the country and the entire world need peace. For a young man to have this idea to organise peace pageant, it is a laudable project.

    “Without peace, there is no development. Right now, we have problems in the Niger Delta because investors are still afraid of coming to invest. They are afraid because of threat posed by those who are still in the creeks.

    “As long as that happens, the desired development will continue to be elusive. The government is poised to develop all parts of the country including the Niger Delta region but violence remains the bane.  Without peace, there will not be development in the region.

    “So far, so good, in the last two years, the Presidential Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta has been able to guarantee some level of peace in the region. At a time the programme commenced, the crisis was very high and up until August 2016 we still had the problem.

    “Fortunately, we have been able to douse the tension. We have tried as much as possible with the government’s commitment and the little resources available to stabilise the region.

    “We can boast of pilots, engineers and specialists of different professions now in the region. I want to urge parents, guardians and stakeholders to please take this home to our children, our brothers and sisters that there is no alternative to peace.

    “They (agitators) in the creek should come out and  embrace peace so that we can develop the region and make it like Dubai.”

    In his remarks, the Director, Miss Peace Bayelsa Organisation, Mr Seleipre Tonbie, said the show was established in 2011 to promote peace in the state.

    He said the pageant was a reminder of the proclamation of amnesty by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and the violent agitation that led to the proclamation.

    Tonbie said: “The Miss Peace Bayelsa Beauty Pageant is also aimed at creating new role models that will serve as an ambassador of peace and enhance a new strength synergy and spirit of the advancement of peace in Bayelsa and the Niger Delta.

    “We have the ideology that peace is not a mere absence of war, but a virtue that springs from the force of character.

    “Therefore, the promotion of peace through the emulation of acceptable character representation becomes pertinent via pageantry which showcases young, intelligent, confident, talented and creative females who believe in their contribution to social awakening and growth. The quest for peace should be conscious and collective effort to embrace change.”

    The highlight of the event, which ended at about 3:00am on was the conferment of Distinguished Advocate of Peace Awards on two prominent ex-militant leaders, Ebikabowei Ben, aka Boyloaf, and Chief Reuben Wilson, aka ‘General Pastor’.

    Miss Samanta Davidson, representing Nembe Local Government Area, won this year’s Miss Peace Bayelsa, while Miss Gbarian Ekpetiama and Miss Gbomo West emerged first and second runners-up.

  • Boroh says PAP trainees will get empowerment kits

    Boroh says PAP trainees will get empowerment kits

    The Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, retired Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh, has reassured beneficiaries undergoing training in various centres across the country that they will receive empowerment  packages at the end of training.

    Boroh, also the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, gave the assurance at Songhai, Omukpe-Delta,  where 100 beneficiaries were undergoing empowerment training in fishery and poultry production.

    Piriye Kiyaramo of  Media and Communication Department, PAP, said in a statement in in Abuja on Thursday that Boroh was represented by the Head, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Mr Bestman Probel.

    He reiterated that President Muhammandu Buhari was  determined to ensure stability in the Niger Delta region through his socio-economic development agenda.

    According to him, agriculture will guaranty food security in Nigeria.

    The Deputy General Manager of Songhai Delta, Mr Ifowodo Rasmus, commended Boroh for his foresight of focusing on agriculture as a means of empowering youths.

    The manager, represented by the Centre director, Dr Jude Okpidi, described the current batch of 100 beneficiaries at the farm as the best in terms of  conduct and attention to studies.

    “The trainees have been so wonderful.

    ‘’Initially when I heard of amnesty programme, I was apprehensive but after working together, I observed that most of them have been refined and can work and integrate into the larger society properly.

    “We have been handling amnesty beneficiaries  over the years but this set is the best.

    “They have been able to comply with our code of conduct and they have behaved maturely throughout the training here.

    “Songhai Delta has been engaged in all aspects of integrated farming, ranging from animal husbandry, crop production, agro allied processing, welding and fabrication, computer training, poultry, fishery, grass cutter, snail, piggery, quail and all other areas related to animal husbandry.

    “In the area of crops, we mill exotic vegetables, like carrot, garbage, cucumber, spring onions and the rest. In the agro allied section, we compound our feeds here for all animals, both fish, then we process juice. We are also into pastry production.

    “Under crops, we are into milling of palm fruits; the palm oil you get from Songhai Delta is hundred percent pure. Most of the equipment we use here like our feed mill machines were  fabricated here.

    “So far we have trained them on how to start their own agro-allied enterprises and business accounting,’’ he said.

    Earlier, a senior integration officer and a social media expert, Mr. Gbaboyor Jude had admonished the delegates on the relevance of the training.

    Jude said that at the end the beneficiaries would be empowered to start their own farms under the mentorship of the Amnesty Office.

    Jude, also a beneficiary, said the Amnesty Office, under Boroh, had  injected new blood into the programme through  the introduction of various life changing packages.

    He listed some of the new programmes as automobile engineering, aquaculture, hospitality and catering, among others.

    A beneficiary at the centre, Koroama Solomon, said they were fortunate to be part of the integrated agricultural training.

    “The Amnesty Office has tried for us because after finishing this training we will work for ourselves without going to look for jobs.

    “We don’t have to rely on crude oil because when the oil price drops, agriculture becomes the next thing we can use to feed ourselves.

    “We really appreciate the Amnesty office for this initiative.

    Another beneficiary, Roseline Avwayekerho, thanked the coordinator for giving the trainees lifelines through  agricultural empowerment.

    Avwayekerho said the knowledge would  assist her to start a  poultry farm to feed her family and also become an  entrepreneur.

  • Ex-militants promise to back Buhari’s peace moves in N/Delta

    Ex-militants promise to back Buhari’s peace moves in N/Delta

    • Boroh carpets those maligning Buhari, Amnesty Office

    Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta have promised to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s initiatives in the Niger Delta.

    This decision was announced after a meeting between the ex-agitators of phases 2 and 3 and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd.) in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    Gen. Boroh said it was imperative for the leaders to meet regularly with officials of the Amnesty Programme to share ideas, make observations and proffer solutions that would bring about peace, infrastructural change and human capital development of thousands of the youth captured in the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    He emphasised that conflict and violence were no resolutions to the crisis and urged the leaders to constantly remind the ex-agitators in their camps not to breach the peace in the country and ensure that the non-violence agreement signed at Obubra that led to the declaration of Amnesty in 2009 is upheld.

    Gen. Boroh urged the leaders to use all channels of dialogue in solving problems to allow for government’s developmental projects like the rail construction, modular refineries and the community pipeline surveillance to take off as this would be of benefit to the people and create massive job employment for the youth of the region.

    Special Assistant to the President on Economic Council Donald Wokoma said the Amnesty office had the responsibility of ensuring peace and stability in the region to allow related agencies carry out their projects.

    He advised the ex-agitators to take advantage of opportunities made available by the government to develop themselves and stop excess and unfounded petitioning of appointees.

    The Amnesty Office Head of Data Management, Maj. Bernard Ochoche(Rtd) and Head Post Training and Engagement Major Abdul Mati (rtd), addressed issues of late payment of stipends to ex-agitators arising from delay in budget passage, recertification of previous qualification from trainings earlier acquired to meet standards for employment, agriculture as the new focus of training, empowerment after training, ongoing partnerships targeted at job creation for graduates and trained delegates.

    Phase 2 Leader Aso Tambo appealed for enlightenment of ex-agitators on new programmes of the office and approaches and decisions of government to move the region forward.

    He said the basis for acceptance of amnesty was to ensure the development of the Niger Delta.

    He described the Special Adviser’s human capital development plans as soft landing that should be maximised by critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta region.

    In another development, Gen. Boroh described as unfortunate comments from some quarters maligning his office and the character of President Buhari over the implementation of projects under the Amnesty Programme.

    He described those responsible as faceless and disgruntled politicians and contractors whose efforts would only strengthen his resolve to carry out the mandate given to his office by the President.

    Gen. Boroh called on the people of the Niger Delta and Nigerians to take ownership of Buhari’s peace and development initiatives for the region.