By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The Partners for Petroleum and Energy Sector Prosperity Initiative (PPESPI) has declared its support for the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator, Mr. Dennis Otuaro, while urging the National Assembly to exercise caution in its ongoing probe of alleged ₦26 billion financial discrepancies linked to the agency.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday in Abuja, Chairman of PPESPI and Director of Natural Resources and Petroleum at the National Civil Society Council of Nigeria, Lord Charles Ibiang, said the group is “concerned and worried” over threats of arrest warrants and repeated summons issued against Dr. Otuaro by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts.

The committee is probing queries raised in the 2021 Auditor-General’s reports, a period preceding Otuaro’s appointment. Ibiang stressed that this timeline is critical and must guide the approach of lawmakers.

“These issues raised by the committee happened three years before the appointment of the current Administrator. Audit reports should be prepared early enough so as not to compromise the set objective of accountability,” he said.

While acknowledging the legislature’s constitutional oversight role, PPESPI appealed for discretion, noting that the PAP is a sensitive national security programme requiring stability and support.

According to the group, Otuaro’s schedule involves “constant travel to challenging environments” to engage ex-agitators and maintain peace in the Niger Delta — a peace it described as “painfully achieved since the 2009 Amnesty.”

PPESPI also asked the National Assembly to invite former PAP administrators whose tenures fall within the period being investigated to ensure fairness and accuracy.

On recent successes of the Programme, the civil society coalition commended the graduation of nine PAP-sponsored scholars from top UK universities, describing it as evidence of Otuaro’s “innovative leadership in prioritizing quality education and skill development.”

Reaffirming PAP’s importance to Nigeria’s petroleum-driven economy, Ibiang urged the Federal Government to continue providing adequate financial support to enable the Programme achieve its mandate.

“The Presidential Amnesty Programme is a strategic agency crucial to Nigeria’s economic stability. We urge all stakeholders to support Dr. Otuaro’s efforts to drive the Programme forward,” he added.

The group concluded by reiterating its commitment to peace in the Niger Delta and accountability in the nation’s energy institutions.