President Buhari does not deny Niger Delta anything – Boroh

The Special Adviser to the President
on Niger-Delta, Paul Boroh, said
President Muhammadu Buhari
approved everything he asked him
for concerning his activities in the
Niger-Delta.
Mr. Boroh, who is also the
Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty
Programme, told the News Agency of
Nigeria in New York that President
Buhari’s commitment had brought
about peace in the region.
“The main reason the Niger-Delta is
stable today is because of the total
commitment of the President,
Muhammadu Buhari, in ensuring
that the Niger-Delta is peaceful,
stable.
“This is mainly to allow for
development in the region.
“The president is very concerned
about the region – that it has not
developed the way he expected.
“That is why candidly speaking, all
that I ask for, he approves.
“It is more so because he’s very
committed to ensuring development
in the region.
“And while he gives me the support
to achieve his commitment, the
stakeholders of the Presidential
Amnesty Programme are also in total
support of the administration.
“We meet from time to time and they
pledge their loyalty, they are happy
with the way the programme is being
conducted.
“And they are ready to ensure that
they support the administration and
the programme until we achieve the
result for which it was established.
“The Presidential Amnesty Office and
PANDEF- Pan Niger Delta Forum –
work hand-in-hand; very satisfactory
relationship.
“In fact, we have some members of
PANDEF that are in my office. So, we
discuss from time to time ways and
means of how we can impact the
Niger Delta region.”
The presidential aide said with the
ongoing efforts of the federal
government, the Niger Delta has
“very great future” adding, generally,
there will be infrastructural
development to create massive job
opportunities for the people in Niger
Delta region.
Mr. Boroh, a retired brigadier
general, said President Muhammadu
Buhari’s administration is committed
to a peaceful and developed Niger
Delta region.
He said the impact of the Presidential
Amnesty Programme in the Niger
Delta region has been very
satisfactory and encouraging because
the ex-agitators have imbibed the
culture of ensuring peace.
“This is to allow for growth in the
region and they are happy about it
because a lot of valuable
entrepreneurship programmes are
ongoing in the entire Niger-Delta
region.
“Their (ex-agitators) morale is high
and they are happy.
“Each time I go to discuss with the
ex-agitators and the youth, they
pledge their loyalty and support to
the present administration.
“This is so that the administration
can continue the good things it is
doing because of the commitment of
Mr President in ensuring peace,
stability and development in the
region.
“The Niger Delta today is stable,
peaceful and expecting investors
moving there and help in adding
value to the region,” Mr. Boroh said.
According to him, well over 5,000 ex-
agitators have benefitted within the
past two years in critical areas of
aviation, maritime, oil and gas and
agriculture.
The amnesty coordinator said
agriculture was now the main focus
of the programme in line with the
government’s economic
diversification strategy.
“This is to ensure that the ex-
agitators imbibe the details of the
new agricultural policy so that they
can be professional farmers at the
end of the day.
“This will create massive job
opportunities, ensure that there’s
food security in the region and the
country at large and again, enhance
our financial position.
“Niger Delta is stable and investors
are moving in to continue their
business,” Boroh said.
The presidential aide also explained
that the programme has a terminal
phase but that the ex-agitators would
be empowered before the final
phase.
“The programme has a timeline to
phase out. It has to do with ensuring
that the ex-agitators that are in the
programme are adequately trained
and empowered so that they can
leave and this is ongoing.”