From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
A Niger Delta Peace Advocacy group, under the aegis of the Movement for Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Security Adviser, Major General Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd.) to urgently extend the tenure of the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.) and confirm him as the substantive Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) to sustain a the peace enjoyed across the Niger Delta region.
MSDND made up of ex-militant leaders, elders and other stakeholders, explained that the tenure extension and confirmation of Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd.) will provide the needed intellectual powerto coordinate and interface with ex-militants, beneficiaries of the PAP, youths and elders across the region and bridge the gap between the President Buhari led administration and the people of the Niger Delta region.
The national coordinator of the group, Chief Ayibatekena Olodin, in a statement issued via electronic mail, commended the recorded achievements of PAP under Col. Dikio, and stated that, it is urgently necessary for a proper inter-agency line of communication with the PAP be established for the Crude Oil and Gas Pipeline Surveillance contractors across the region to interface and coordinate ex-militants, youths and stakeholders in the region.
“The ex-militants, stakeholders and group are of the view that the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) has done exceptionally well in the last two years, and his expertise is urgently needed in the renewed fight against crude oil theft in order to calm frayed nerves following the commendable award of the surveillance contract to a former militant leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo also known as Tompolo which will benefit thousands of families across the region and our national economy,” he said.
Chief Olodin noted that since Col. Dikio (rtd), came on board as the Interim Administrator of the PAP the people have witnessed a paradigm shift on the programme in terms of relative peace across the region, change in mindset of ex-agitators, entrepreneurship, engagements with stakeholders.
“Col. Dikio (rtd), has also introduced the Novel Train Employ and Mentor Scheme, (TEM), with the first graduation of 349 ex-agitators of various skills at the Bradama International Skill Works Limited in Ondo State, owned by one of the foremost freedom fighter-High Chief Bibopiri Ajube, a.k.a “Shoot-at-sight,” which had brought another turn around and tremendous impact on the programme, and more-so, on the recent deployment of over 1,400, ex-agitators to acquire skills, which include Aircraft Pilots/Engineers, Agriculture,oil & Gas, Marine Sector, Clean up or Oil Spillages, among others to the PAP beneficiaries.”
Olodin who disclosed that Dikio upon assumption of office in August 2020 inherited debt to the tune of ₦72billion naira added that with limited resources he has been able to clear most of the debts owed to suffering contractors and PAP beneficiaries by his predecessors.