Breaking News: PAP Chief, Stakeholders Support Development-Initiatives Of President Tinubu Political Will To Develop Niger-Delta

Breaking News: PAP Chief, Stakeholders Support Development-Initiatives Of President Tinubu Political Will To Develop Niger-Delta

President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated a strong political will to support the sustainable development, stability, and peace of the Niger Delta, according to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP). Speaking at the Technical Session of the Niger Delta Stakeholders’ Summit 2024 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Otuaro emphasized the critical role of communities and stakeholders in ensuring the region’s progress.

The summit, themed “Renewed Hope for Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta,” was organized by the NDDC. Otuaro, through a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Igoniko Oduma, expressed confidence in Tinubu’s commitment to accelerating the region’s progress. He highlighted a recent four-day stakeholders’ engagement in Warri, Delta State, aimed at reinforcing the president’s genuine desire for sustainable peace and growth in the Niger Delta.

Otuaro underscored the importance of stakeholder involvement in community development, advocating for project designs and contract models that consider the unique needs of riverine and upland communities. He stated, “Stakeholders’ engagement by the NDDC has been long overdue. This is why we, at the PAP, organized our stakeholders’ meetings in Warri to assure everyone of the president’s renewed hope agenda.”

He added, “President Tinubu has the political will to support the development of the Niger Delta. We believe he will not disappoint us, but we, as community members and stakeholders, must play our part. Peace is essential for us, even before oil. Without peace in our villages, many of us cannot return home.”

Otuaro stressed that stakeholder engagement is crucial in designing community projects. He noted that the NDDC management understands the vital role of peace and stability in the region’s development. He pointed out, “Peace, security, and stability involve stakeholders, including traditional rulers, youths, and women, many of whom have been excluded from NDDC activities. People need to be informed about what is happening.”

The PAP chief urged all stakeholders to use the NDDC summit as an opportunity to support the agency in achieving its core objectives. He encouraged stakeholders to actively participate and provide input on projects, especially those addressing immediate community needs.

“I recognize that the terrains of NDDC states vary, but I appeal for careful consideration of project designs in riverine areas, as the contracting models differ from those in upland areas,” Otuaro concluded.