The Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Program, Major General Barry Ndiomu (retd.), has announced that the Federal Government has committed N1.5 billion to support a cooperative scheme for 30,000 ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region. The initiative seeks to ensure the self-sufficiency of these militants and reduce their dependence on the N65,000 monthly stipends.
During the launch of the PAP Cooperative Society Limited in Abuja, Ndiomu remarked that the agency has deposited the funds at Providus Bank for the take-off of the scheme and intends to provide N500 million monthly to support the program. He also noted that the cooperative scheme presently targets ex-agitators, but it will expand to impacted communities and potentially benefit several people across the region as the funds increase.
“The whole essence is to discourage reliance on the monthly stipends which you will all agree with me has brought the culture of indolence and is not in our best interest. So we have decided that rather than give them fish, we should teach them how to fish,” Ndiomu stated.
The cooperative scheme seeks to provide an alternative economic development initiative to create a more viable means of livelihood for ex-agitators with the socio-economic development of their communities and the region. The cooperative will be managed by the ex-agitators and closely supervised by the PAP office through their consultants. Also, an Advisory Board headed by a Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Francis Tabai, will oversee the program.
Ndiomu explained that the cooperative was expected to collaborate with beneficiaries of the PAP to identify businesses that align with skill areas, set up and turn the process into a profitable venture. He added that technical and business development support would be provided to beneficiaries, and that the overall aim is to help them own and operate viable business ventures that will meet essential needs, create employment opportunities, and boost economic growth in the Niger Delta region.
He further revealed that the PAP would be targeting rice production as they recently signed an MOU with communities for the development of rice farms. Discussions are ongoing with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to facilitate and support the program.
The ex-agitators have welcomed the initiative, with HRM Henry Ekes commending the scheme. He stated that it would help many of them who were unsure of how to survive since they could not return to the creeks to cause trouble. Ekes also noted that other agitators support the program and often advise others to embrace the initiative to be self-reliant.
