Gen. Peter k .Aghogho is a youth leader and Ex-Agitator of the Phase 3 of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, from the Urhobo extraction, Delta State.

In this interview with our Correspondent, Gen. Peter spoke extensively on the need to make the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Program, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (Rtd), be appointed a substantive Coordinator by His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari and other matters as it concerns the Amnesty program.

Excerpt:

What is the Presidential Amnesty Program all about?

The Presidential Amnesty program was designed by Late Musa Yar’adua for ex-militants to be provided opportunities which will earn them a better living outside the creek and empowered them through skills acquisition.

We all know before now, there have been youth unrest in the Niger Delta region by agitators who are eager to cause mayhem in the region all because there is no job anywhere or anything to eat, no empowerment from government but since this Presidential Amnesty program came on board, the situation has changed drastically.

Today, the Presidential Amnesty Program had provided youths various skills, trained a lot of the ex- militants in different fields of discipline and also offer Scholarship to impacted community of Niger Delta region, where the programme has impacted in them a level of social life through education in home and abroad.

What is your rating since Col. Dikio assumed the position of the Interim Administrator of the Programme?

Firstly, let me appreciate you for such an excellent question, I must confess that, the administration of Col. Milland Dixon Dikio has brought smiles to the faces of Niger Delta youths through his laudable programs and giving the youths from the region a sense of belonging in the activities of the program. He has the Adminitrative capacity, this is not mere praises.

Under the administration of Col. Dikio, a lot of youths had benefitted from the program as many has been sponsored abroad for studies and that is part of his progressive agenda, today some beneficiaries are being engaged with different skills after training, were empowered with funds and starter-pacts to establish themselves and making them self reliance.

His administration has recorded prompt payment of stipends. Stipends that comes every month between 24th and 25th of every month, this is a clear indications of Col. Dikio’s steadfastness to move the youths to the next level.

There are rumour making the round that some of you are not being carried along and not even slots alloted, what is your take on this?

If you are so conversant with the ongoing activities of the Presidential Amnesty Program, you will agree with me that the Federal Government has approved thirty thousand Slots for beneficiaries of the Presidential Amnesty Program.

The truth is that the slots have been given out and alloted to beneficiaries and the Federal Government have done so well. More Slots are coming and it will go round, considering the agenda of Col. Dikio which is people oriented.

Some persons have been protesting, complaining especially those in the third phase, my appeal goes to them, that all we need at this point in time is to Cooperate with the federal government as they put more things in place to make sure everyone smile.

What would you say about education?

In terms of Education, Col. Dikio has massively approved the Sponsorship of beneficiaries, In the area of Education, Dikio has hold it dear to his heart because he is a man who believes that Education plays vital role in every man’s life. Every year at least twice, Students are been sent abroad and others school here in Nigeria in different disciplines. Since 14th Of October 2021 when Mr President re appointed him as Interim Administrator, Col. Dikio has been up and doing in his Administrative work all to make sure, de deliver the very best.

Col. Dikio believes Education is the bed rock of every foundation that moulds the well being of humans. I can categorically say that, he has done so well.

What is your take home like since Amnesty was granted?

The Presidential Amnesty Program has given opportunities to so many Niger Delta Youths, it has created Stability, created balance. Today, talking about the economy as regard crude oil, before the advent of the Programme, Although Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude oil producer, over the years, the country’s strength as an oil producing country is continually threatened by its inability to locally refine crude oil for domestic consumption.

While the increase in oil prices may be great news for oil-producing countries this may not entirely be the case for Nigeria.

Although Nigeria is Africa’s largest crude oil producer, over the years, the country’s strength as an oil producing country is continually threatened by its inability to locally refine crude oil for domestic consumption.

With Nigeria importing refined petroleum, the landing price of the commodity (price before subsidy inclusion) is subject to prices of Crude oil at the international market.

Simply put, Nigeria exports crude oil and benefits from high crude prices, but since the country does not refine its own crude oil for local consumption, it has to import refined crude oil and it has to import petroleum at international market price inclusive of other costs of refining, costs which collectively become the landing price.

The country’s minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed while speaking about the N3 trillion bill for subsidy in 2022, blamed the increase in the amount to be spent on fuel subsidy on the surge in the price of crude oil to $80, signalling that, if there is more increase, more amounts will be spent on subsidy payments.

For instance, Nigeria’s National Petroleum Corporation (now company) posted zero revenue in October 2021, and was quoted as stating that subsidy payments gulped all revenue made from exports for the month.

In 2020, with the impacts of COVID-19 on local consumption of petroleum amid lockdowns and a crash in the price of crude oil to a low of $41.47, the country spent N102 billion on subsidies.

In 2019, the sum of N508 billion was recorded as spent on subsidy in NNPC’s books when the crude oil average price then was put at $64.04.

Rising crude prices will likely mean higher refined petroleum landing prices which will mean ballooning subsidy payments for the country. Eventually, an increase in Crude Oil price, may not necessarily mean more revenue for the country

Already, crude oil prices have been projected to reach $100 per barrel, meaning, if the country’s practice of higher crude prices, the higher subsidy is anything to go by, and the consumption rate figures remain or increase, NNPC may spend even more for subsidy than the N3 trillion.

Although the country has turned its Oil corporation into a company, stating its intention to revive critical infrastructures, the immediate effect of the current crude oil prices and the future projections may impact on fiscal policies and oil-sector contribution to revenue generation. If the militants in the Niger Delta region where still troubling the area if not for the peace the Program has brought, all this wouldn’t have been achievable.

Sincerly speaking, I want to plead and admonish Mr President His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari to please appoint Col. Milland Dikion as the Substantial Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Program. Let the Program continue.

This will give him the opportunity to consolidate on his rich agenda, reach and touch all areas in his agenda.

I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to all third Phase Ex- agitator to Cooperate with the Col. Dikio led administration as for what we are still expecting to come to us. This will further build our trust in the heart of the Federal government.

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