“Tinubu Keeps Funding Amnesty — But Beneficiaries Say ‘We’re Starving on ₦65K!’”
By Paul Ebi
Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to sustained funding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), even as beneficiaries back home raise fresh concerns over hardship and inadequate stipends.
Speaking in London during an interactive session with foreign scholarship beneficiaries, Idris praised the programme’s impact, describing it as a platform “building a community of intellectuals” across the Niger Delta. The event, organised by PAP Administrator Dennis Brutu Otuaro, took place on the sidelines of Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom.
According to the minister, over 223 beneficiaries are currently studying abroad under the scheme, while thousands more have benefitted from educational and vocational interventions.
“This is a programme that is producing intellectuals who will drive development not just in the Niger Delta, but across Nigeria,” Idris stated, assuring that the President remains committed to its expansion and sustainability.
The session also saw beneficiaries present an Award of Appreciation to President Tinubu, citing his continued support for overseas scholarships and human capital development.
Also in attendance, Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, commended Tinubu’s “love for the Niger Delta,” noting that peace in the region has improved significantly under the current administration.
Rising Discontent Back Home
Despite the positive tone in London, reactions from beneficiaries in the Niger Delta tell a different story.
Several PAP beneficiaries have expressed frustration over what they describe as stagnant and insufficient stipends, currently pegged at ₦65,000 monthly. Many argue that the amount no longer reflects current economic realities, especially amid rising inflation and cost of living in Nigeria.
Some beneficiaries, speaking anonymously, described their situation as “worsening,” claiming delays in payments and lack of increment have left many struggling to survive.
“How can ₦65,000 sustain anyone for a whole month in today’s Nigeria?” one beneficiary lamented. “People are suffering.”
The growing dissatisfaction is beginning to spark conversations across the Niger Delta, with some warning that failure to address these concerns could undermine the very peace the programme was designed to secure.
Otuaro Defends Programme Reforms
Responding to the concerns, PAP Administrator Dennis Brutu Otuaro maintained that the programme has recorded “remarkable successes,” including the deployment of over 8,000 scholarship beneficiaries in the last two years.
He credited President Tinubu’s support for enabling reforms and expansion, while also promising increased focus on vocational training and empowerment initiatives.
Otuaro further urged Niger Delta stakeholders to support the administration, insisting that ongoing reforms would yield broader benefits in due time.
Unresolved Tension
While the Federal Government continues to highlight achievements and international recognition, the disconnect between policy promises and grassroots realities remains a growing concern.
For many beneficiaries, the central question is no longer about funding—but about impact.
As one frustrated voice put it:
“Funding is good, but if people are still hungry, then something is wrong somewhere.”
The coming months may prove critical in determining whether the Presidential Amnesty Programme can maintain both its credibility and its core objective of sustaining peace in the Niger Delta.
