…demand increased funding for PAP

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – IJAW youths under the auspices of Ijaw Youth Consultative Forum, IYCF, yesterday, commended the meeting between the Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Chief Dennis Otuaro, and the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

The Chairman/CEO, IYCF, High Chief Ebizimor Preye Raphael, described the meeting as timely as it was basically on critical issues affecting the Niger Delta region on how to sustain the peace and overall development across the region, and also the IYCF acknowledged that Otuaro took a very proactive step and approach to ensure the challenges facing the Niger Delta region are holistically addressed with long lasting solutions, therefore, noted that his efforts have contributed significantly to the relative peace and stability currently enjoyed in the region.

However, as one of the foremost youth organisation in the region, the IYCF, urged the Senate President to look deep and see how the challenge of inadequate funding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, in order to maintain the peace, and allow international oil companies to have unfettered access to carry out their oil and gas activities in the region, therefore, there is need to have the funding met as PAP is integral to the peace and well-being of the Niger Delta region and the programme’s continued success.

He said: “We commend Chief Otuaro for his tireless efforts in promoting peace and development in the Niger Delta region,” said the IYCF in a statement.

“We also urge the Senate President to take the issues of inadequate funding of the PAP seriously, as it is critical to the sustenance of peace and stability in the region.

“The IYCF’s call for increased funding for the PAP is coming at a time when the programme is facing significant challenges in its efforts to reintegrate ex-agitators and promote economic development in the Niger Delta.”

Meanwhile, the IYCF’s endorsement of Chief Otuaro’s efforts and their call for increased funding for the PAP serve as a reminder of the critical role that collaborative leadership and sustained investment can play in promoting peace and prosperity in the region, therefore, the need by the Federal Government to sustained investment in the region’s peace and development initiatives.