Ijaw socio-cultural groups, comprising the Ijaw National Congress (INC), the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), and Traditional Rulers in the Niger Delta region have commended Maj.- Gen Barry Ndiomu (rtd) for his impactful six-month stewardship of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
The group, which scored Ndiomu high in terms of performance as the Interim Administrator of the programme, said they were buoyed by his strategic and robust stakeholders’ consultation and engagement, which, they said, is key to solving the problems of the region.
INC President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, in an interview with Arise TV recently, noted that under Ndiomu, the amnesty programme is taking a new dimension of growth. He said the PAP boss is not only liaising with stakeholders in the region but also addressing their demands.
“I learned some of them have been pushed into security services, some into the oil companies, and some are even encouraged to form cooperatives with funding so that they can start up their own businesses.”
“Under Buhari, it is on record that about 121 first-class graduates have been produced from the Amnesty Programme.
“The Amnesty Programme is taking a new shape. There are serious consultations. He goes down to the stakeholders in their villages and communities, harkens to their demands and addresses them as swiftly as possible.”
Similarly, spokesperson for the IYC, Ebilade Ekerefe described Ndiomu as a man of “discipline and courage,” who has contributed to the sustainable peace being experienced in the Niger Delta region.
