Amnesty: Nigeria, Netherlands to partner on Niger Delta development

John Groffen, ambassador of the Kingdom of Netherlands to Nigeria, said on Monday that the embassy would collaborate with the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) office in providing skills acquisition opportunities for the Niger Delta ex-agitators.

Groffen gave this indication when he led officials of the embassy on a courtesy visit to Paul Boroh, the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta and coordinator of the programme, in Abuja.

He said Nigeria was a country with great potential that needed a peaceful and secure environment for it to be realised, saying “Nigeria is a country of endless potential and we will assist in attracting more investment to the country.

“The basic issue about the Niger Delta region is employment and this can only be realised in an environment that is conducive for investment. Our areas of collaboration with the PAP will be for sustainable peace and development in the region.”

Earlier, Boroh said PAP was committed to partnership with The Netherlands embassy that would lead to gainful employment of ex-agitators after the programme.

He said training and provision of jobs to 30,000 ex-agitators after their training in Nigeria and in the Diaspora required functional collaboration with the international community.

He, however, used the visit to seek more practical support from The Netherlands to the amnesty programme.

The coordinator gave an assurance that Federal Government was committed to developing the Niger Delta region and ensuring sustainability of the amnesty programme.

He also assured the visiting ambassador that adequate steps would be taken to strengthen the partnership between the PAP and the embassy.