AMNESTY OFFICE ORDERS ARREST OF 35 LEADERS OF NIGER DELTA EX-AGITATORS

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME

PRESS STATEMENT

AMNESTY OFFICE ORDERS ARREST OF 35 LEADERS OF NIGER DELTA EX-AGITATORS

The Amnesty Office today handed over to security agencies in Abuja 35 leaders of Niger Delta ex-agitators enrolled under Phase Two of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. This became inevitable given the incessant harassment and intimidation of officials of the office, including the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, by these persons, to subvert the provisions of the 2012 budget and channel the allowances meant for 6,166 other persons in the programme to just these leaders. At a meeting with officials of the Amnesty Office in Abuja on Tuesday 25 September, 2012, the leaders of the ex-agitators threatened to disrupt social and economic activities in sensitive governmental places in Abuja if their request to have the Transition Safety Allowance (TSA) proposed for 6,166 persons enrolled in the second phase of the amnesty programme was not immediately paid out directly to them and not to all the enrolled persons as enshrined in the 2012 budget. At this meeting, Hon. Kuku painstakingly explained to the leaders that the Federal Government will never accede to this demand to divert or channel funds meant for 6,166 persons to just the leaders, who are less than 100. Kuku further clarified in his discussions with the leaders that extant financial regulations do not permit any Ministry, Department and Agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria to pay money to persons or services other than as clearly spelt out as a line item in the budget. In the 2012 budget for the Presidential Amnesty Programme, provision was made for the payment of a stipulated sum as Transition Safety Allowance to each of the 6,166 persons enlisted in the second phase of the programme. But, some of the leaders of the ex-agitators are insisting that the total sum so budgeted for the 6,166 be shared out to them alone. All efforts by Hon. Kuku to persuade them to understand that their request was illegal and thus untenable failed as they continued to threaten to unleash mayhem in Abuja. The Special Adviser therefore resolved to hand the leaders of the ex-agitators to security agencies so as to nip in the bud any untoward act. It has become important to reiterate, once again, the commitment of Hon. Kuku to the transparent, accountable and tenacious implementation of the Presidential Amnesty Programme as demanded by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. It should be recalled that last week the Amnesty Office notified the public of the unrelenting plot by certain persons to discredit both the Amnesty Programme and its chief driver, Hon. Kuku. The Office views the unnecessary and unwarranted demand of these leaders for the payment of bulk sums of money meant for other persons to them as one of such plots. The Amnesty Office shall continue to resist these attempts to rubbish a programme that has ensured the stability of the security situation in the Niger Delta.

Daniel Alabrah Head,
Media and Communications Presidential Amnesty Office
Tuesday, September 25, 2012

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PROPOSES STIFFER PENALTY FOR OIL SPILLAGE

Written by Kunle Awosiyan, Lagos Saturday, 22 September 2012.
 The National Assembly may slam stiffer penalty on oil spillage offenders as the Senate President, Senator David Mark bemoaned the indiscriminate degradation of Niger/Delta area by oil companies. He expressed his displeasure over the poor attitude of some oil companies in the environment at the public presentation of a book, “Remaking the Niger Delta: Challenges and Opportunities” written by the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku in Lagos on Friday. Mark, who was represented by the Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Niger/Delta, Senator Nurudeen said that oil spillage and environmental pollution was unchecked because the country lacked the enabling law to fight the excesses of the oil companies. He said that oil spillage offence in Nigeria attracted compensation of a meagre sum of N1 million, which according to him, is shameful compared to the damage spillage could cause on the ecology and human lives in such communities. He lamented how the country had unleashed serious environmental degradation on Niger/Delta in the name of oil production in the last 50 years without effective law to prosecute the perpetrators, majorly the oil companies. According to him, 13 million barrel of oil spillage had been put on Niger/Delta in the last 50 years with over 250, 000 of the spillage deposited annually on the once arable land of Nigerians living in the area. “This is equivalent to Alaska spill in United States, which attracted billion dollars compensation and regarded as the worst in the whole world. Niger/Delta suffers for this every year with no strong legislation to fight this anomaly,” he said. While describing the incessant spillage as very irresponsible, the senate president said if an oil company in Brazil could pay $4 million to Brazilian Government as compensation over spillage, there is no reason why Nigeria should not put stiffer penalty on spillages. He said, “many of the offenders cannot be brought to book in Nigeria because there is no enabling law to prosecute them. Our oil has special quality, but our people suffer serious environmental degradation.” Speaking on the book, the author, Kingsley Kuku stated that the manuscript was developed to sustain the good work of amnesty programme that was initiated by the former and Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and his former deputy, the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.

JONATHAN ATTRIBUTES PEACE IN N/DELTA, INCREASE IN OIL PRODUCTION TO AMNESTY PROGRAMME

By Davidson Iriekpen. President Goodluck Jonathan has listed peace in the Niger/Delta region, increased oil exploration and revived economy as part of the gains of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Speaking in Lagos yesterday at the public presentation of a book written by the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, titled: "Remaking of the Niger Delta: Challenges and Opportunities", the President pledged to sustain the programme till all the militants are fully integrated. Jonathan, who was represented by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, extolled Kuku for working assiduously to ensure the Niger Delta wears a new look. He said the militancy in the region crippled the nation's economy in 2009 by robbing the country of over N3 trillion in revenue. "We also had low reserves. foreign investment was also poor and insecurity in the region was fingered and late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua granted the militants amnesty”, Jonathan recalled. The President said about 23,580 ex-agitators enlisted in the amnesty programme, adding that 13,078 have been trained in various profession and vocation. The President expressed delight that the amnesty programme has brought peace to the region. He commended the late president Yar’Adua for initiating the amnesty, while urging the youths to “maintain the peace, imbibe the values of discipline, commitment and hard work in whatever you are doing and the sky would be your their limit.” Making reference to his own background, he said the youths “don’t have to be born of rich parents to become somebody in life.” President Jonathan said he would “work and partner all Nigerian youths because as leaders of tomorrow you have a big role to play in changing the way we have been doing things in this country,” adding that the Federal Government would also partner the state governments to create jobs for the youths. “We have reached a stage where we must do things differently and begin to attract foreign investments,” he noted. Also speaking at the event, the Senate President, David Mark, represented by Senator Nurudeen Usman, described the book as a noble initiative. Mark said it was regrettable that 50 years after oil was struck in the country, there was no law to protect the environment or sanction companies that involved in environmental degradation. He added that what oil companies dare not do overseas because of the laws in those countries were the things, they do in Nigeria because of the Nigeria’s weak laws. He assured that a bill meant to sanction oil and gas companies was underway, adding that Kuku's commitment has led to the development of invaluable human resources for the region and the nation as a whole. "The aviation college has not trained more than 250 pilots since inception but the amnesty programme has within two years trained about 200 pilots. But I urge him to continue with the good works as we'll be the first to criticise him if he goes in the wrong direction", he said.

JONATHAN PROMISES MORE INFRASTRUCTURE, EMPLOYMENT

Friday, 21 September 2012.

President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday in Lagos said that his administration would continue to provide needed security, employment opportunities and infrastructure that would transform the country. Jonathan made the pledge in Lagos at the public presentation of a book titled “Remaking the Niger Delta, challenges and opportunities”. The book was written by Kingsley Kuku, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme. Represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo, the president said that such efforts would help in elevating the youths and Nigerians in general, adding that the leadership could not afford to let the youths down. He also promised that his administration would continue to provide support that would improve the amnesty programme. ``The Federal Government’s unconditional amnesty in 2009 has brought peace and stability to the region because the agitators through their action had almost crippled the nation’s economy. “Insecurity in the region then was the key reason why investors were leaving the area, while kidnapping of crude oil workers was affecting the image of the nation. “The situation got to the point that Nigeria was producing about 700,000 barrels of crude oil per day while Nigeria lost N3 billion,” he said. The president added that 23,589 agitators were listed on the amnesty programme with 13,078 of them trained in various fields while 7,000 had been fully employed The President also commended the author of the book and recommended it to scholars, researchers and Nigerians. “I am particularly delighted that Kuku in the book stated that the Niger Delta region now wears a new look “Our modest efforts in this sector have helped to bring security and peace to the region for the benefits of all Nigerians,” he said. Also speaking, Senate President. David Mark, commended the author for his efforts in restoring peace and sanity to the Niger Delta. “From 700,000 barrels per day during the period of youth restiveness in the region, Nigeria now produces about 2.6 million barrels of crude oil per day,” he said. Mark, represented by Sen. Nurudeen Abateni-Usman, Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on the Niger Delta, announced that a bill to regulate oil operation in the region had passed the second reading in the senate. “We know those who are doing the irresponsible act but there are no law which we can use to prosecute them and made them to clean up the environmental degradation caused by their actions. “Such a law would also streamline employment quota for Nigerians and foreigners to be engaged by the oil prospecting multinationals. “It is regrettable that 16,000 of the 19,000 people working in Bonny Island are foreigners doing what Nigerians could easily do. “This deficiency must change, so that the agitation for gainful employment by the Niger Delta youths will stop,” Mark said. Speaking, Kingsley Kuku, author of the book, pleaded that other Nigerians should support the sustainability of the current peace in the Niger Delta region achieved through the amnesty programme. “Clear environmental developments are needed in the Niger Delta so that those militants undergoing local and foreign trainings will not revert to agitation to control the crude oil resources in the region on their return. “There is sanity now and expatriates can do their jobs without being held hostage and this must be sustained by all. ``We need the contributions of all Nigerians to ensure that the region and country is peaceful and does not become a fragile nation,’’ he said. Prof. Godini Darah while reviewing the book also reminded the Federal Government of the strategic position of the region to the national economic development. Lagos State Deputy Governor Adejoke Orelope–Adefulire, Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, his Majesty Alfred Diette- Spiff, the Amanaynabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa, members of the national assembly, chieftains of the People Democratic Party among others attended the ceremony.

NAN

NIGER DELTA MAY BOIL AGAIN UNLESS......KUKU

Niger Delta May Boil Again Unless... –Kuku

Written by Donald Ojogo, Regional. Saturday, 22 September 20, 2012

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Office, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, has described the current prevailing peace in the Niger Delta as ‘fragile’, warning that the region’s peace may relapse to another brand of restiveness, unless relevant developmental agencies intensify efforts to change the face of the nation’s oil rich belt. Kuku spoke at the public presentation of his book, “Remaking The Niger Delta: Challenges and Opportunities” in Lagos on Friday, as President Goodluck Jonathan expressed optimism that the region’s developmental challenges would soon be over, saying, “serious efforts are on” in that regard. According to the Presidential Aide, the relative peace in the Niger Delta needed to be sustained through a synergy of efforts in order to avoid a situation where the Presidential Amnesty Office would be over stretched, averring that his office is not an infrastructure-focused body. “Today, as we savour the benefits of the amnesty proclamation and its attendant derivatives after disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, the nation has gone ahead in terms of oil production quota from a disturbing 700,000 barrels per day in the pre-proclamation era to an enviable figure of almost 3 million barrels per day. “Crucially, the post amnesty programme merely gives relevant agencies such as the multinational oil companies, states, local governments, NDDC as well as the Ministry of Niger Delta the rare opportunity to commence immediate developmental efforts in order to avoid future agitations that may take an entirely different dimension. “This is very crucial because, unlike before, when there were no trained employable technicians of Niger Delta origin, we now have eminently qualified ones, who can favourably compete with their counterparts all over the world,” he said.

FUNDS UTILISATION: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY LAUDS AMNESTY PROGRAMME

18 Sep 2012 by: Ndubuisi Francis http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/funds-utilisation-national-assembly-lauds-amnesty-programme/125264/

The National Assembly has applauded the management of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, describing it as judicious utilisation of public funds. Members of the Senate and House Committees on Niger Delta handed down the commendation in Johannesburg, South Africa, after completing their oversight/inspection visit to the Afrika Union Aviation Academy in Mafikeng and the Flight Training Services in Midrand, where 53 Niger Delta youths are being trained as pilots. A statement issued by the Head, Media and Communication of the Amnesty Office, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, leader of the delegation and Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, expressed satisfaction that the programme was being properly implemented. His words: “We came here to assess how deep the amnesty programme is. We all know what brought about this programme because Nigeria decided to address a fundamental injustice to a section of the country. “From what we have seen and experienced during our interaction with the trainees, I can tell Nigerians that the amnesty programme gives us hope and we are very proud of these youths. The funds allocated to the programme are being judiciously used and we will continue to support and expand its scope.” Abatemi-Usman described the young pilots as the future of Nigeria’s aviation industry. Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta, Hon. Warman Ogoriba, commended the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, who oversees the programme, saying he has succeeded in dismissing the cynicism towards the programme. “When amnesty was granted, most Nigerians thought nothing good will come out of it. But now the story is different. Our youths are being trained all over the world in critical sectors. We are very impressed and my advice to these young Nigerians is to continue to be good ambassadors of our country,” Ogoriba said. The Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, on his part, noted that aviation is a sector that requires excellence globally and the trainees must give their best to be able to compete. According to Ningi, amnesty is not a Nigerian concept that is meant for a particular region, adding: “Trainees must realise that they represent the whole country wherever they are. What we saw here gives us hope in Nigeria.” “The amnesty programme has exceeded our expectation and we are very proud of these young Nigerians. Besides, this is a practical demonstration that the fund allocated to the programme is not a waste; it is not money down the drain,” Ningi stated. All the legislators, including Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Hon. Moshood Mustapha and Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, went on separate solo flights with the trainee pilots. Senator Okowa particularly expressed delight that he was flown by a female trainee from Delta State, Ngozi Idigbe.

AMNESTY FUNDS WELL UTILISED-NASS

The National Assembly has described the implementation of the amnesty programme for Niger Delta youths as judicious utilisation of public funds. Members of the Senate and House Committees on Niger Delta stated this in Johannesburg, South Africa, after completing their oversight/inspection visit to the Afrika Union Aviation Academy in Mafikeng and the Flight Training Services in Midrand, where 53 Niger Delta youths are being trained as pilots. Leader of the delegation and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, expressed satisfaction that the programme was being properly implemented. His words: “We came here to assess how deep the amnesty programme is. We all know what brought about this programme because Nigeria decided to address a fundamental injustice to a section of the country. “From what we have seen and experienced during our interaction with the trainees, I can tell Nigerians that the amnesty programme gives us hope and we are very proud of these youths. The funds allocated to the programme are being judiciously used and we will continue to support and expand its scope.” Senator Abatemi-Usman described the young pilots as the future of Nigeria's aviation industry. Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta, Hon. Warman Ogoriba, commended the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, who oversees the programme, saying he has succeeded in dismissing the cynicism towards the programme. “When amnesty was granted, most Nigerians thought nothing good will come out of it. But now the story is different. Our youths are being trained all over the world in critical sectors. We are very impressed and my advice to these young Nigerians is to continue to be good ambassadors of our country,” Ogoriba said. The Deputy Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi, on his part, noted that aviation is a sector that requires excellence globally and the trainees must give their best to be able to compete. According to Senator Ningi, amnesty is not a Nigerian concept that is meant for a particular region. “Trainees must realise that they represent the whole country wherever they are. What we saw here gives us hope in Nigeria. The amnesty programme has exceeded our expectation and we are very proud of these young Nigerians. Besides, this is a practical demonstration that the fund allocated to the programme is not a waste; it is not money down the drain." All the legislators, including Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Hon. Moshood Mustapha and Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, went on separate solo flight with the trainee pilots. Senator Okowa particularly expressed delight that he was flown by a female trainee from Delta State, Ngozi Idigbe.
 DANIEL ALABRAH

 HEAD, MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS

 JOHANNESBURG SEPTEMBER 16, 2012

AMNESTY PILOTS FLY NASS MEMBERS

Senators and House of Reps members have thumped-up the amnesty programme, describing its implementation as judicious usage of public funds. They gave the commendation at the Afrika Union Aviation Academy in South Africa yesterday after embarking on solo flights with pilot trainees under the presidential amnesty programme. Apart from the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, the Senate Leader, Abdul Ningi and Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, also undertook solo flights. Others were the Chairman, House Committee on Niger Delta, Hon. Warman Ogoriba and another member of the committee, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke.

The NASS members are visiting some of the PAP training centres in South Africa in continuation of their oversight duties. Hear Senator Ningi: "The amnesty programme has exceeded our expectation. What we saw here gives us hope in Nigeria. We are very proud of these young Nigerians. They are our worthy ambassadors in this country (South Africa). "Besides, this is a practical demonstration that the funds allocated to the programme is not a waste; it is not money down the drain." An excited Senator Abatemi-Usman described the young pilots as the future of Nigeria's aviation industry, saying the National Assembly will continue to support the programme and expand its scope.

Others in the team are Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and Hon. Moshood Mustapha. Our own veteran pilot and aviation guru, Captain Prekeme Porbeni, was also present. Thirty-five delegates are currently being trained at the AUAA. Seven of them were presented private pilot certificate, one got commercial pilot certificate and another a first solo flight certificate. The tour continues today with visit to the Flight Training Services in Midrand. -
Dan Alabrah
14/09/12

117 NIGER DELTA YOUTHS RESUME AT LEAD CITY UNIVERSITY, IBADAN

A total of 117 Niger Delta students yesterday, resumed studies at the Lead City University Ibadan. While a few of the new intakes are admitted into access diploma, a broad range are in the Sciences, Social Sciences, and Management Sciences. Addressing the students at an orientation ceremony organized by the school in Ibadan yesterday, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, represented by Head, Education, Mr Patterson Ogon, advised the students to take academics seriously and be counted as worthy ambassadors of the families and communities they come from. The Special Adviser also used the opportunity to announce the introduction of various academic awards to promote educational excellence amongst beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. Outstanding students in the various areas and disciplines, he says shall be honoured at the end of every academic session and expressed hope that the students shall take the window of opportunity offered by this kind gesture to be counted in the success story of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

The various awards announced at the ceremony include: 1. PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN AWARD for overall best student in the Amnesty programme every academic session. 2. LATE PRESIDENT UMARU MUSA YAR’ADUA AWARD for overall best student in Sciences. This award is to select the best amnesty student in Nigerian universities as well as the best Amnesty Science student in other universities across the world. 3. GENERAL GODWIN ABBE AWARD for best school in discipline and exemplary conduct; 4. AIR VICE MARSHALL ARARILE AWARD for best graduating student in Aviation Studies; 5. NDUTIMI ALAIBE AWARD for best graduating student in Management and Entrepreneurship; and 6. DR (MRS) TIMIEBI KORIPAMO-AGARY AWARD for Overall best Female amnesty student 12/09/12

Nigeria: Amnesty - Dubai Firm Employs 30 Niger Delta Youths

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/amnesty-dubai-firm-employs-30-niger-delta-youths/124285/

Thirty youths from the Niger Delta region under the Presidential Amnesty Programme have been offered jobs by the Proclad Group in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The job offer is in welding and fabrication, and came after the youths successfully underwent skills acquisition training brokered by the Amnesty Office in collaboration with the International Centre for Nonviolence and Peace Development, which partnered Proclad Academy, Dubai. Speaking in Abuja Thursday at a send-forth ceremony organised by the Amnesty Office for the youths, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, said the Amnesty Office in collaboration with the International Centre for Nonviolence and Peace Development (ICNPD) partnered Proclad Academy to train the youths in various skills acquisition programmes. "To this end, the Presidential Amnesty Office under the Post training Initiative scheme is working with relevant partners and stakeholders in the region and abroad to employ some of the delegates who have successfully completed their training. "This commenced with the engagement of 1000 trainees and immediate employment of 40 maritime delegates by Century Energy Group," he said, giving the names of other training partners that have employed the youths (delegates) as Learning Resources of Ghana (10), Plant and Processing Services in Nigeria (4), Ashland Investment Services also in Nigeria (5), and Proclad Academy in Dubai (30). All the organisations employed the youths in the areas of welding and fabrication. Kuku disclosed that the Amnesty Office had also on August 31 commenced the pilot scheme of Entrepreneurial Refresher Courses, Business Set-up, Coaching, mentoring and Evaluation of 3,450 already trained youths in various vocational skills.

DUBAI FIRM EMPLOYS EX-MILITANT TRAINEES

http://www.channelstv.com/home/2012/09/07/dubai-firm-employs-ex-militant-trainees/

30 youths from the Niger Delta region under the Presidential Amnesty Programme have been offered jobs by a Dubai-based firm, The Proclad Group. The youths were among 175 ex-militants trained by the Proclad Academy in the areas of welding and fabrication under the Amnesty programme. The figure brings the total number of trainees engaged after their training to 89. All the youths were engaged in the areas of welding and fabrication. Speaking in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku explained that several employment opportunities abound for the youths who were trained under the programme. He added that several trainees of the programme have started their own businesses and the amnesty office is helping them to develop their businesses by organising an Entrepreneurial Refresher Course for the self-employed trainees

AMNESTY OFFICE DEFENDS EX-MILITANTS EMPLOYMENT IN S’AFRICA

September 6, 2012 by Fidelis Soriwei,

Abuja Presidential Amnesty Office has defended the employment of ex-Niger Delta militant graduates of the Amnesty Programme by South African firms. Head of Media and Communications of the Amnesty Office, Mr. Dan Alabrah, said in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday that the office was in support of the engagement of the ex-agitators because there were no provision of job opportunities for them. He said the fact that the South African firms found the youths worthy of employment had showed that the standard of their training was high. Alabrah added that the development had boosted the image of the country and amnesty programme. He said if the ex-militants had rejected the offers, they would have had to contend with the anxiety of looking for job after their training programme. Alabrah said the African Union Aviation Academy, Masikieng, South Africa, had written the Amnesty Office to release one of the trainees, a pilot, to serve as an instructor at the academy. He added that four other ex-agitators, trained in codd welding, had also been engaged by a foreign firm. He stated also that some of the aviation trainees had applied for further training in Canada. He urged Nigerians not to categorise the engagement of the amnesty trainees by foreign organisations as brain drain. He said, “If they don’t take the opportunity, unemployment may threaten in the future, they may be in the labour market. It is to the benefits of Nigeria, it is not the issue of brain drain. They are still Nigerians, we are not losing them. “It is an attestation to the fact that the programme is already transforming the lives of Niger Delta youths. “I think five of them were initially employed. The school is already appealing to Nigeria to release him (Bassey Henshaw); he has already qualified as a private pilot. “About 47 have got their private licence and they are training for their commercial licence. And to be frank, the office has nothing against their engagement. “They are appealing to Nigeria to release one of the boys to come to African Union Aviation Academy, Masikieng. “They have made representations to us for us to release him, we don’t have anything against it.” Alabrah said the FG was responding to the warning by the United Nations that the world would be needing 100,000 pilots by training pilots through the amnesty programme. He said the office was already into the training of pilots that would take over from the current generation of ageing pilots. He said the ex-agitators were being trained as pilots in South Africa, United States, Greece and Dubai.

FROM THE CREEKS AS MILITANTS TO DUBAI AS AMBASSADORS

Our amiable SA, Hon. Kingsley K. Kuku, the genius of our millennium…these were the words of gratitude used by the Newly recruit Niger Delta Youth, to express their profound gratitude for the opportunity the PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME has afforded them, it was just last year that 165 of the PAP beneficiaries gathered at the Amnesty Office and received advice and admonitions before they commenced their journey to study at the Proclad Academy in UAE. Today marks another milestone in the history of Amnesty, as 30 successful graduants are offered Employment with full benefits with The Proclad Group. It is worthy of note and commendation that they are being offered employment which has several benefits including Pension, meals and accommodation. In his response, Hon. Kingsley Kuku advised the newly employed to be good ambassadors of the country from …he noted that this indeed is another score for Mr. President, given the kind of latitude to succeed and achieve his mandate. “By gathering here today, we celebrate Mr. President today for this great feat. These gentlemen have made Nigerians proud and themselves”. There have been several companies that have retained some graduates who have performed excellently in a particular traning. This is the type of DEVELOPMENTAL COUP that the Amnesty Office is Planning, Training People for the kind of job opportunities that investors / companies would have no choice than to engage the trainees in. Mr. Larry Pepple, Technical Assistant / Head Reintegration encouraged them to live as Brothers and a Family, complying fully to the UAE Laws.

Ibiene Jaja

AMNESTY OFFICE BEGINS TRAINEES’ ENTREPRENEURSHIP SCHEME

THE Presidential Amnesty Office has commenced its entrepreneurship scheme with 300 former agitators in the Niger Delta. Speaking at their graduation ceremony in Lagos at the weekend, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, said the pilot scheme was for beneficiaries that had completed their training in various vocations. Kuku, who was represented by the Technical Assistant on Reintegration, Mr. Larry Pepple, explained that the scheme was designed to equip and prepare the amnesty beneficiaries to become self-reliant and employers of labour. According to him, rather than leave them idle after completing their vocational training, a three-week intensive entrepreneurship programme was designed for them preparatory to commencing their own businesses. He added: “For those in this pilot post-training entrepreneurship scheme, we are about to put them through a process where they can create their own small business places. We will brand it, give them branded equipment, seed money and see them become owners of small businesses scattered around the Niger Delta or any place they choose to do business in Nigeria.” He, however, stated that there would be a 12-month monitoring and evaluation period for the beneficiaries when they were expected to maintain log books and monthly reporting to see if they were growing in the business. This, he further explained, would ensure that they go into profitable ventures without nursing the fear of failure. “We are collaborating with some banks to ensure proper funding and monitoring of the scheme. Beneficiaries will not be given cash but they will be required to state their business location, which will then be paid for and properly equipped with the tools or items for their chosen business,” he stated.

3,642 MORE EX-MILITANTS TO BENEFIT FROM AMNESTY PROGRAMME - FG

Written by Yinka Oladoyinbo Akure Tuesday, 04 September 2012

 The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to expand the amnesty programme to include an addition of over 3,642 beneficiaries from the Niger Delta region of the country to bring the total number of beneficiaries to 30,000. Already, the memo to that effect has been presented to President Goodluck Jonathan for approval before the end of September. The expansion of the scheme to accommodate the beneficiaries would, however, be subject to the approval of the president. The Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and chairman of the Amnesty programme, Kingsley Kuku, said this in Arogbo Kingdom, Ese-Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, at a rally organised in support of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Chief Olusola Oke. He said the expansion was sequel to agitations from those that were not considered in the first phase of the programme. “There is agitation going on in the Niger Delta and I have always been at the fore-front of the clamour that the amnesty programme has to close, the boys are unrelenting and the security agencies have collected their arms, the only option opened to us is to return their arms, so if we are not going to return their arms, they should be included in the programme one way or the other. “So my office and that of the National Security Adviser have met and forwarded a memo to the president and plead with him to consider the final inclusion of 3642 persons to the present 26368 to make it 30,000. “The way I am pursuing it, between now and October 1, we will have the final say from Mr President, whether he will accept or not,” Kuku said. He added that the programme was being expanded to include those people that did not carry arms during the Niger Delta struggle but worked for the ex-agitators.

PAP PRODUCES 24 NEW GRADUATES IN OIL DRILLING

On the 28th of August 2012,

24 Ex-agitators (herein referred to as delegates) graduated FROM GULF TECHNICAL AND SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE (GTSTC), MUSSAFAH, ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES where they were undergoing a 1 year training in oil drilling. The delegates who are beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Programme resumed training drilling at Gulf Technical Institute in August 11, 2011 .In 1 year, the delegates have been able to fit into the UAE society,they have been well behaved and finally have completed their training programme. All courses are accredited by International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), Houston Texas, an Organization with exclusive representation in the Oil and Gas industry in drilling technology worldwide. A qualifying examination for IADC unique license and Drilling Diploma was conducted of which 20 of the 24 passed and were awarded the respective certificates. They were awarded unique license, drilling license and diploma. Based on their excellent performance,the management of GTSTC has promised to publish the names and particulars of the 20 delegates who were successful in "the drilling licensing and diploma examinations" on IADC website and the drilling contractor’s membership directory publication as this will go a long way in exposing the delegates to international job placement opportunities.