The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has disclosed that about 8,000 Nigerians are currently studying within the country, while 220 others are pursuing academic programmes in the United Kingdom under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

According to a post on Wednesday via his X, Idris spoke during a meeting with beneficiaries of the scheme in the UK, held on the sidelines of President Bola Tinubu’s state visit to Britain at the invitation of King Charles III.

Also present at the meeting was the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri.

PAP was established in 2009 by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to address militancy in the Niger Delta by disarming and rehabilitating former agitators.

Over the years, it has evolved to focus on skills training, education, and empowerment projects aimed at fostering peace and development in the oil-rich region.

Reflecting on his engagement with beneficiaries, Idris expressed satisfaction with the programme’s outcomes nearly two decades after its inception.

“It is very heartwarming to witness the impact of the programme first-hand and interact with beneficiaries,” he said.

He added that the current administration remains committed to expanding opportunities for young Nigerians.

“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 the development of the country,” he added.

According to the minister, conditions in the Niger Delta have significantly improved compared to the past.

He noted that the region, once characterised by “deprivation, degradation and disorder,” has seen positive change through interventions such as the PAP.

Providing further details, Idris said, “The Programme Administrator/Coordinator, Dennis 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.”

He described the initiative as a major success, calling it “one of the best programmes” implemented in the country, and affirmed that the Tinubu administration would continue efforts to strengthen and reposition it. (The PUNCH)

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