Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says over 8,000 Nigerians are currently studying within the country, while more than 220 others are pursuing education in the United Kingdom under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).
Gatekeepers News reports that Idris made this known on Wednesday during a meeting with beneficiaries of the programme in the UK, held on the sidelines of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit at the invitation of King Charles III.
Also present at the meeting was Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources.
Programme’s Impact Highlighted
The Presidential Amnesty Programme was established in 2009 by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to address militancy and unrest in the Niger Delta.
The initiative followed years of disruption to oil production caused by kidnappings, bombings, and attacks by armed groups protesting environmental degradation, underdevelopment, and issues of resource control in the region.
In a statement shared on X, Idris expressed satisfaction at witnessing the programme’s impact nearly two decades after its creation.
“It is very heartwarming to witness the impact of the program first hand and interact with beneficiaries,” he said.
“The President’s desire is to ensure that all Nigerians, including and especially the youth, are given the right opportunity to thrive and to contribute meaningfully to development of the country.”
Thousands Benefiting from PAP
According to the minister, the Programme Administrator, Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, disclosed that thousands of beneficiaries are currently enrolled in educational programmes.
“The Programme Administrator/Coordinator, Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, informed me that there are over 8,000 students studying in Nigeria at the moment, and over 220 undergoing various studies in the UK,” Idris said.
He added that the Niger Delta, once plagued by “deprivation, degradation and disorder,” has witnessed notable improvement through initiatives such as PAP.
Idris described the scheme as “one of the best programmes” implemented in Nigeria, noting that the Tinubu administration remains committed to strengthening and repositioning it.
