Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), Interim Administrator of Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has announced plans to create a special project to dissuade a new generation of agitators in the Niger Delta.
He explained that the project tagged, the Niger Delta Stabilisation Programme would involve a massive reorientation programme targeting youths between the ages of 12 to 18 in all the states in the region.
A statement signed by Dikio’s Special Adviser on Media, Nneotaobase Egbe, said the PAP boss made the revelation while delivering a keynote lecture at the Nigeria Defence College in Abuja on Monday.
Dikio said the proposed project would avert intents of agitation in the region and would also strive to set up ex-agitators in meaningful businesses to ensure lasting peace and security in the region.
He maintained that the projects would be implemented through various schemes such as the Train, Employ and Mentor (TEM), cooperatives, strategic conflict resolutions and peace-building programmes.
He said the projects were necessary due to the increasing calls for the termination of PAP, as they are necessary alternatives to curb the possible emergence of a new wave of militancy amid present economic realities in the country.
He said: “We have adopted a conflict resolution system that involves robust stakeholders engagement, strategic communication and rehabilitation and resettlement, peace building and reconciliation programmes.
“It is also pertinent to note that the proposed Niger Delta Stabilization programme targeted at age groups 12 to 18 involves reorientation and visioning of these group of youths to curb any new emergence of militancy in the Niger Delta.
“You’ll be pleased to know that some of the people, whose responsibility is to block the roads when they have issues have come out to confess that they didn’t know better. They confessed that they were hired to block the roads and they did so because they were ignorant.
“Now, instead of the usual violent behaviour, they seek avenues for dialogue. We hold face to face meetings with the ex-agitators, talk about their issues and work out resolutions that benefit all. This has helped in mitigating many issues that otherwise would have led to breakdown of law and order in the region”.
