Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has called for better funding of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for it to function effectively.

Mr Diri made the call on Friday when he received the PAP Administrator, Dennis Otuaro, and his delegation in Government House, Yenagoa.

The governor, who stressed that funding was critical for the survival of the programme, called on state governments and National Assembly members from the Niger Delta to collaborate toward addressing its funding challenges.

He said: “There is no place that will survive without funds. These are some of the issues that we as governors can also support you in ensuring that our National Assembly members make the contacts and synergise so that these issues will not be left for you alone to handle.’’

He advised Mr Otuaro to build linkages across relevant state governments within the region to ensure that the programme made a meaningful impact.

Mr Diri noted that the Niger Delta Development Commission also faced similar challenges, which had affected its activities.

The Bayelsa governor admonished those calling for the scrapping of the programme, saying the issues that led to its establishment were still prevalent.

According to him, despite the transition to renewable energy, crude oil production still plays a vital role in the nation’s economy.

He said, “In terms of human and natural resources, over the years, there has been a long cry of neglect and underdevelopment. The initial armed struggle in Ijawland fought for justice and development. The community called Oloibiri in Bayelsa, where crude oil was first struck in commercial quantities in 1956, is now a shadow of itself. Nothing was ploughed back into Oloibiri that brought out all the trillions of naira for Nigeria. Amnesty was not a gift to the Niger Delta but to bring succour to a people that had been abandoned.’’

Commending the previous administrator for creating training centres across the region, the governor decried vandalism at the training centre in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state.

He urged the incumbent administrator to revamp it.

In his remarks, the PAP Administrator requested the support of the state government in the area of funding for its training programmes.

Mr Otuaro said the programme was at the rehabilitation and reintegration stage and there was a need to consult with relevant stakeholders to ensure its success.

He noted that from 2014, funding for the programme was reduced by half while its scope was expanding, particularly when it had about 1,681 students in tertiary institutions in the country and 38 students studying abroad.

Mr Otuaro said that 98 maritime cadets had been deployed within the country, stressing that there was the need to expand the programme to accommodate business-oriented women stakeholders.

He commended Mr Diri for his administration’s efforts in ensuring that Bayelsa remained peaceful.

He added that ljaw people were happy with the prevailing peace and security in Bayelsa.

(NAN)