Otuaro warns against extortion of PAP scholarship applicants, says no payments required

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has raised alarm over reports that some stakeholders are allegedly soliciting money from unsuspecting applicants during the ongoing 2025/2026 scholarship application process.

Speaking on Wednesday at the opening of the third batch of a three-day Strategic Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation Training—organised by PAP in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja—Otuaro emphasised that the application process for both undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships remains free.

He revealed that he had received information indicating certain individuals were allegedly collecting money from parents and guardians of prospective beneficiaries under false assurances.

A statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, on Wednesday reiterated the Administrator’s call for applicants to avoid making any payments, stressing that applications should only be submitted via the PAP portal, where each would be fairly processed.

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Describing the alleged acts as “regrettable and unacceptable,” Otuaro warned that such actions threaten the integrity of the scheme. He underscored that the scholarship initiative was established to expand access to higher education for youths in the Niger Delta and to foster human capital development in the region.

Otuaro reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, assuring that the PAP will ensure the scheme’s objectives are not undermined by dishonest practices.

“I have received reports alleging some stakeholders collect money from applicants, parents and guardians with fake promises concerning the ongoing scholarship application process for the 2025/2026 academic year,” he said.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the scholarship application process is free. No one should collect money from anybody; nobody should encourage someone to collect or give money to anybody for the scholarship exercise. It is free.

“The scholarship programme is a deliberate scheme for our people for a better tomorrow, it is not for our today. My leadership is committed to ensuring transparency and accountability even in the management of the scholarship award process.

“Those engaged in the alleged bad act should stop because I will not allow anyone to compromise the integrity of the application process. I urge all stakeholders to help discourage the collection of money for the scholarship.

“We will take drastic steps against any one attempting to divert the opportunity of the scheme to swindle innocent people,” he added.

Otuaro also highlighted the purpose of the ongoing training, noting that it was designed to strengthen participants’ leadership capacity as peace ambassadors in the Niger Delta.

“You are, in fact, also peace ambassadors of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, GCFR. Therefore, you are expected to deploy the knowledge you would gain from this training to strengthen the ongoing peacebuilding process of PAP because the development of the region is in the priority agenda of the President,” he said.

Declaring the workshop open, he urged participants to take the programme seriously, stressing that the objectives were aligned with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for peace, stability, and development in the region.