On September 27, 2024, former Niger Delta agitators appealed to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), to increase their monthly stipends. High Chief Yusuf Eregbene, the Obaseki of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom in Delta State, voiced concerns about the current amount, stating, “What they’re getting is too small.”
Speaking at an interactive session hosted by the PAP, Eregbene emphasized the need for inclusivity in the amnesty initiative, advocating for the inclusion of those who did not benefit from the program. He stressed the importance of fairness and justice, stating, “They should carry everyone that did not benefit from the Amnesty Programme because many of the people that disarmed did not benefit. We need total peace in Niger Delta.”
Eregbene encouraged the ex-agitators to commit to sustaining peace in the region, asserting, “Where there’s peace, there will be development and other things.” He urged those already disarmed to honor their agreements with the Federal Government and work towards fostering peace in the Niger Delta and the nation as a whole. “Please, make peace your priority. We need it,” he concluded.
