Tinubu’s strategic policies advancing development, stability in Niger Delta — PAP boss, Otuaro

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, says President Bola Tinubu has adopted a deliberate and strategic method in confronting issues of development, economic expansion and long-term peace across the Niger Delta.

Otuaro made the remarks on Saturday during a town hall meeting in Lagos with PAP stakeholders and Niger Delta residents. The session was convened by Chief Joseph Eva, a prominent Niger Delta advocate and Founder/President of the Ijaw Monitoring Group.

The gathering drew several notable stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (Lagos chapter), Prince Tonye Harry; Prof. Dauphin Moro; Engr. Titus Posibi; Chief (Mrs) Amarian Benedicta; Chief (Mrs) Ogbogbo; Evangelist Agboro; Chief Emmanuel Fiawe; Robert Fiawe; Elder Regent Youmor; Mrs. RoseMary Aluko; and the IYC Lagos chapter Chairman, Comrade Owen Naphatin.

A statement issued on Sunday by Mr. Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Administrator, noted that Otuaro described Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda as a framework already yielding visible results in addressing security, development and peace-building challenges in the region.

He said the administration had not only restored calm but was also fulfilling its commitments to human capacity development and infrastructure delivery in the Niger Delta.

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Otuaro attributed recent milestones in PAP’s scholarship programme, vocational training, and peacebuilding initiatives to the consistent backing of the President and the National Security Adviser.

He informed attendees that in-country scholarship placements grew from 3,800 in the 2024/2025 academic year to 3,900 in 2025/2026, with an additional 200 foreign scholarship opportunities.

He pledged that the PAP would continue creating pathways for indigent youths to access higher education, acquire relevant skills and contribute to national development. According to him, the growth of the region is tied to investment in human capital, which remains central to peace and socio-economic progress.

While expressing appreciation for the President’s support, Otuaro assured stakeholders that Tinubu would expand his developmental interventions in the Niger Delta after the 2027 election, urging residents to reciprocate his commitment.

Otuaro further said, “One of the things you must know about His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is that he is very strategic and systematic in his approach to resolving issues of development, socio-economic growth, security and sustainable peace in our region- the Niger Delta.

“You all can see how Mr President’s deliberate approach is producing positive results in our region. There is no doubt that Mr President’s strategy is working for the Niger Delta.

“This applies to the huge support that he has been giving to the Presidential Amnesty Programme under my leadership, for which we are very grateful.

“Because of His Excellency’s massive backing, we have been able to expand the programme’s scholarship scheme, and it is our strong hope that more students of indigent backgrounds from impacted communities will benefit from the initiative. We will also continue to strengthen our policy of inclusivity.

“I want to, again, thank His Excellency for finding me worthy for appointment; to take up the baton of leadership at the PAP with the help of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who has been very supportive of our initiatives since I assumed office.

“I urge you and all the people of the Niger Delta to continue to support the administration of Mr President because we are confident that, judging from the many good things he is doing in our region, he will do even much more for us after his reelection in 2027.”

In his response, Chief Joseph Eva praised Otuaro’s leadership qualities, noting that the achievements recorded under his watch were consistent with his long-standing values and commitment to regional advancement.

“I am not surprised because I have known Dr Dennis Otuaro very closely for many years, and the values he stands for. He is a very focused person.

“Indeed, Dr Otuaro has achieved a lot in human capital development, vocational skills and peacebuilding process for our region. We have confidence in his leadership, vision, and dedication to regional development,” Eva said.

The event concluded with the presentation of the ‘Best Iconic Administrator Award’ to Otuaro by the stakeholders.