The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) says it has been repositioned to tackle unrest and unemployment in the Niger Delta by partnering with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to empower youths in the area with requisite skills.

PAP interim administrator, Maj.- Gen. Barry Ndiomu, disclosed this during a courtesy call to the managing director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mohammed Bello-Koko, in Lagos on Friday.

Mr Ndiomu solicited the partnership of the authority for some of its programmes, especially the Deep Sea Diving School in Rivers State.

The interim administrator said he had redirected the programme to its primary objective of boosting the capacity of youths in the Niger Delta.

“Like they say, ‘an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’. When these boys are jobless, what do you expect from them? They engage in criminal activities, including pipeline vandalism, piracy and other activities which affect the economy,” he said.

According to him, PAP has five vocational centres, established with different specialisations, such as Agadagba in Ondo State, to train youths in oil and gas-related activities.

He said the one in Bomadi, Delta had the objective of building capacity in energy-related activities, while the one in Rivers is for deep sea diving training.

He said it was regrettable that the centre in Boro town, Bayelsa, was vandalised after its completion.

Mr Ndiomu solicited technical support, as well as long-term strategic collaboration in utilising one of the jetties of the NPA for the deep sea diving school in Rivers.

“I want to solicit your support and assistance with a view to using one of your jetties in Rivers, which we can develop further together for the deep sea diving school and other related marine training.

“This is one area where we can get the youths to create a sustainable livelihood. These boys are willing to learn. Many of them have been trained, but sadly, they are unemployed,” he said.

In his response, Mr Bello-Koko commended Mr Ndiomu for boosting the capacity of youths in the Niger Delta, adding that the programme had helped address the unrest in the region.

He assured Mr Ndiomu and his team of the willingness of NPA to provide technical support and other assistance needed for the success of the deep sea diving school.

Mr Bello-Koko said the authority had improved activities in the ports in the region to engage the youths by providing jobs gainfully.

“For us in NPA, we have tried to improve activities of our ports in the region to tackle restiveness because with these activities, jobs are created, and the youths are engaged.

“We will work with you to give you all the support you need. We will work with you to see any available jetty for the purpose you want to use it for.

“We also seek your support when you are engaging with the communities around the port locations; they need to realise that their action and inaction will determine how viable the ports are,” he said.

(NAN)