Ex-Agitators Laud Ndiomu for PAP Disbursement of Second Tranche of Loan 

Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt 

Ex-agitators in the Niger Delta have lauded the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Maj-Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd), for commencement of the disbursement of the second trench of loan to them.

THISDAY learnt that the Presidential Amnesty Programme Cooperative Society Limited (PACOSOL) has commenced the disbursement of the said loan.

The ex-militants made the commendation during at the flag-off of the event, performed by Ndiomu.

Speaking during the flag-off, Ndiomu said it was in fulfillment of the earlier promise made by the PAP that more people would be captured in the scheme. 

Ndiomu, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Mr. Thomas Peretu, explained that with the commencement of the exercise, the number of entrepreneurs being created by the PAP would increase adding that the scheme would help to create more jobs and reduce poverty in the Niger Delta.

A statement signed by the PACOSOL Management Consultant, Zigha Ayibakuro, said Ndiomu expressed optimism that the beneficiaries would make good use of the loan disclosing  that the scheme was running simultaneously with the other empowerment training programmes and initiatives of the PAP.

He said: “This loan is just one aspect of the entire programme that will give the beneficiaries a sustainable means of livelihood and also for them to become employers of labour. 

In his remarks, the Chairman of the PACOSOL Management Board, Retired Justice Francis Tabai, who spoke through a member of the board, General Emmanuel Salubi (retd), said the scheme was designed to discourage the over dependence on the monthly N65,000 stipend. 

He said: “The N65,000 monthly stipend is not enough to sustain them and their family. And so this is the best thing for them. To embrace entrepreneurship so that they can make more money for themselves and contribute to the GDP of the region and country. 

“What we did as the management of the scheme was to also introduce mentorship for them to guide their operations and show them the way to succeed in their different businesses. This way it will be difficult for them to fail”.

Also speaking in his capacity as the Management Consultant of PACOSOL, Zigha Ayibakuro, commended beneficiaries of the first batch for making judicious use of the loan.

He commended the Interim Administrator for approving the disbursement of the second batch, saying those, who hitherto did not believe in the process had come to arrest to its reality.

Addressing the beneficiaries, Zigha charged them to surpass the achievement of their colleagues in the first batch by ensuring they put to proper use what they had received in order to pave the way for others.

Some of the beneficiaries appreciated Ndiomu for the opportunity and assured him that they would work hard to make him proud.