The Presidential Armnesty Programme, PAP, has solicited for more collaboration and support from the Nigerian Army, NA to enable it achieve its given mandate.
PAP’s Interim Administrator, Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd) made the request Thursday, when he paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya at the Army Headquarters, Abuja.
TheFact Daily reports that PAP was conceived in June 2009 as a short-term mechanism for de-escalating and defusing the militant insurgency that destabilised the oil-rich Niger Delta over the preceding decade. It was also designed to achieve broader socioeconomic and stabilisation objectives by reintegrating agitators via trainings, further education, job placements, and business startup support, and pay a monthly social support stipend until they graduate the PAP.
During the meeting, Maj. Gen. Ndiomu said the challenges have necessitated his visit to the COAS to solicit his immense support and collaboration in the area of human capital development and logistics among others to enable PAP implement its programmes and activities.
The Interim Administrator, while acknowledging the contributions of the Nigerian Army to the PAP over the years in the area of training, security and logistics support, urged for the sustenance. He also lauded the efforts, commitment and gallantry of the NA towards mitigating the multifaceted security challenges across the country and urged them to maintain the tempo.
Maj. Gen. Ndiomu further thanked the Commander AHQ Garrison and personnel for their swift response, the General Officer Commanding 6 Division and troops for their professionalism in maintaining peace in the Niger Delta region and for assisting their operations in the zone.
In his remarks, the Army Chief thanked Ndiomu for the visit, and pledged the NA’s continued support to all of PAP’s programmes and activities to enable it achieve its mandate.
Gen. Yahaya recalled the long standing relationship between both organizations and promised to leverage on it for the benefit of all.
He also congratulated General Ndiomu for his recent appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, and expressed confidence in his capacity to discharge his duties credibly.
PAP’s vision is to transform ex-agitators into entrepreneurs and/or employable citizens who will become net contributors to the economy of the region and the country through effective collaboration with relevant public and private institutions and State governments in the region.
Among the many missions of the PAP is the training of the ex-agitators to become entrepreneurs who will act as agents of change to reverse the narrative of a people dependent on stipends to self-actualised employers of labour and net contributors to the economic prosperity of the Niger Delta.
