by Mitchelle Uzorka
Elders and Stakeholders under the auspices of the Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta (MSDND), in a letter addressed to National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Mohammed Monguno (rtd.), said “there is an urgent need to have Major General Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.), the substantive Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft in the Niger Delta to focus on his herculean tasks in the Federal Government’s fight against crude oil theft to ensure the smooth operations of his eleven – man committee.”
In the letter dated 3rd of February 2023, and signed by the Convener of the MSDND, Chief Ayebatekena J. Olodi and its Secretary-General, Chief Godwin Pere-Ebikabowei, the stakeholders said this will allow the current Interim administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Program (PAP), who doubles as the Substantive Chairman of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft in the Niger Delta region to focus on carrying out his task as the head of the eleven man-committee of the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft in the Niger Delta.
The group pleaded “in-light of the unfolding, scary and scandalous revelations emanating from the office of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, to the effect that Nigeria loses a staggering sum of $1.9 billion USD monthly to oil theft. This revelation is not only mind-boggling but calls for urgent and proactive measures by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to stem this ugly tide before insolvency sets in.”
“Based on these facts, we the Movement for the Sustainable Development of the Niger Delta hereby submit this urgent petition to your office to beseech you into using your good office to recommend someone with proven track record from the Niger Delta region to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme because the affairs of the PAP are being neglected and the PAP is in dire need of a visionary leader.”
“The appointment of Maj. Gen. Barry T. Ndiomu (rtd.) – the Substantive Chairman to head the Special Investigative Panel on Oil Theft in the Niger Delta region was greeted with fanfare without a cursory look into the challenges confronting the Presidential Amnesty Programme. The Presidential Amnesty Programme was founded in 2009 with a clear mandate aimed at addressing militant activities in the Niger Delta region and to shore-up oil production level which was at 700,000 bpd when Nigeria as a nation almost went bankrupt.”
They also ask that the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mongunu, recommend someone to replace the current Interim Administrator of PAP.
“Finally, as the National Security Adviser who supervises the Presidential Amnesty Programme, we beseech you to use your good office to recommend someone with a proven track record from the Niger Delta region to President Muhammadu Buhari for appointment as the Interim Administrator – Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP).”
