Why Tinubu Is Betting on PAP for Niger Delta Peace – Otuaro Explains
By Passman Akpos
President Bola Tinubu has expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), particularly its expanded scholarship scheme, inclusive stakeholder engagement and peacebuilding initiatives in the Niger Delta, the Administrator of the programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has said.
Otuaro disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the flag-off of the fourth batch of the two-day Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Mediation Training for PAP Stakeholders, organised by the programme in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC). The training held at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre.
According to him, the President is pleased with the progress recorded by the agency in about one year and nine months, noting that the administration is strongly committed to ensuring sustainable peace, stability and development in the Niger Delta.
Otuaro said the capacity-building workshop is a critical component of the PAP’s peace process, stressing that stakeholders are not only partners in peace but also ambassadors of the President’s peace agenda in the region.
He revealed that as part of its investment in human capital development, the programme had deployed 4,500 students to universities across Nigeria on scholarships for the 2025–2026 academic session.
“This 2025–2026 academic session, we have sent 4,500 students—our future leaders—on scholarships to universities within Nigeria. We are doing this to invest in the future of our region,” he said.
The PAP administrator recalled that similar leadership and peacebuilding workshops were held in July and August 2025 for three batches of stakeholders, adding that the programme deliberately expanded participation to ensure inclusiveness.
Otuaro also commended the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his strategic support in strengthening the programme and enabling it to achieve its objectives for the people of the Niger Delta.
While declaring the workshop open, he urged stakeholders to sustain peace at the community level and remain united, stressing that peace in the region would attract more development from the Federal Government.
He further cautioned participants against being influenced by political interests he described as “political merchants,” urging them instead to support President Tinubu’s agenda for the Niger Delta, including backing his re-election bid in 2027.
Otuaro dismissed what he termed smear campaigns by “anti–Niger Delta elements,” insisting that his leadership would not be distracted from redirecting the programme to serve the people of the region and future generations.
He encouraged participants to engage actively in the training and apply the knowledge gained to strengthen peace and development in their respective communities.
The PAP administrator also expressed appreciation to the management of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, the resource persons and the President of AANDEC, Rear Admiral Ndidi Agholor (retd.), for partnering with the programme to deepen the peacebuilding process in the Niger Delta.
