Chidinma Iroegbu
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has called on Niger Delta youths and former agitators to sustain peace and stability in the region, saying development thrives in a secure environment.
Speaking in a statement to mark the 2026 Democracy Day celebration, Otuaro described June 12 as a defining moment in Nigeria’s democratic history and a symbol of the people’s right to choose their leaders through credible elections.
He paid tribute to the late MKO Abiola and other democracy activists whose sacrifices contributed to the return of democratic governance in 1999.
Otuaro commended President Bola Tinubu for strengthening democratic institutions and expanding opportunities for citizens to participate in governance and national development.
He said the Niger Delta has recorded significant gains under the current administration through increased investments in education, peacebuilding and economic empowerment programmes.
According to him, presidential support for PAP has led to the expansion of scholarship opportunities, vocational training and post-training empowerment schemes across the region.
The PAP administrator disclosed that more than 8,235 undergraduate and postgraduate beneficiaries are currently studying various professional courses in local and foreign institutions under the scholarship programme.
He also highlighted the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the South South Development Commission, the Federal University of Environment and Technology in Ogoniland and the Nigeria Maritime University, Okerenkoko, as key projects driving regional development.
Otuaro urged residents of the Niger Delta to support ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity, noting that government and security agencies require citizens’ cooperation to achieve lasting peace.
He further praised Tinubu’s intervention in resolving the Warri Federal Constituency ward delineation dispute, stating, “His actions tell the story more than his words,” and called for continued support for initiatives aimed at sustaining peace and development in the region.