The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Administrator, Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has pledged the programme’s support for the Defence Headquarters Joint Monitoring Team in their efforts to combat crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the monitoring team, led by Major General Jamil Jimoh, at the PAP office in Abuja on Thursday, Otuaro emphasized the critical role of the team in addressing illegal oil bunkering and safeguarding critical oil infrastructure.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Otuaro reaffirmed PAP’s commitment to collaborating with the team to meet its mandate. He described the cooperation as part of the directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tackle challenges in the oil-producing region.
Otuaro expressed satisfaction with the current oil production levels, which have risen to 1.8 million barrels per day due to intensified efforts against crude oil theft and vandalism. He voiced confidence in maintaining and potentially increasing this output.
He remarked, “I know that the essence of the PAP is for national and human security in the country and the region. We are going to work with you at any time. It’s part of the things we can do within the mandate given to me by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Based on that, we will collaborate with you to ensure the eradication of oil bunkering and other related activities in the Niger Delta. The country’s oil production output is on the rise and has reached 1.8 million barrels per day as announced sometime last week by the NNPCL. We are confident that it will increase more than that.”
The PAP administrator highlighted the programme’s focus on the reintegration phase, which involves initiatives in formal education, vocational training, and post-training empowerment for delegates, women, and other beneficiaries. He also noted the importance of sustained stakeholder engagement for peace and stability in the region.
He called for increased funding to better manage the programme’s expanding responsibilities in alignment with national security goals.
Major General Jamil Jimoh, leader of the Defence Headquarters Joint Monitoring Team, commended Otuaro for his efforts in promoting peace and stability in the Niger Delta. He highlighted the PAP administrator’s deep understanding of the region as a critical resource in advancing their objectives.
Jimoh stated, “We have been in the Niger Delta, and we have met with some stakeholders. But we felt that it is very important that we also visit the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme that was established by the Federal Government and had brought peace to the Niger Delta.
“The Administrator knows a lot about that general area. He knows the people, and what is happening there and he will guide us on some of the things we want to do.
“We know that he has been doing a lot to make sure things are happening underground in the Niger Delta to maintain peace and stability. So we decided to meet him and his team today.”
Post A Comment: