Minister of Information Mohammed Idris has assured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will continue backing the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in promoting socio-economic development across the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

Idris made the remarks during a PAP interactive session in London with foreign scholarship beneficiaries, organised by PAP Administrator Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro, on the sidelines of Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom.

A statement by PAP’s Special Assistant on Media, Igoniko Oduma, noted that beneficiaries presented an Award of Appreciation to the President for enabling extensive onshore and offshore deployment of students for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Speaking on the President’s behalf, Idris said the programme is “building a community of intellectuals” and emphasised the need for continued funding to sustain its impact.

“All of you young men and women benefiting from the Presidential Amnesty Programme here in the UK, over 223 of you, are undergoing various undergraduate and postgraduate studies; this is very heartwarming. This is a programme that is producing a community of intellectuals who are not only interested in the development of the Niger Delta, but also Nigeria as a whole,” he said.

Idris also commended Dr Otuaro for his leadership and encouraged scholarship students to be exemplary ambassadors of Nigeria while pursuing academic excellence. He added that Tinubu is committed to ensuring all parts of Nigeria benefit from the dividends of democracy.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum, praised Tinubu’s “love for the Ijaw people and the Niger Delta” and highlighted the PAP’s role in sustaining peace and stability in the region under the current administration.

Dr Otuaro reported that Tinubu’s support has enabled PAP to deploy 8,205 scholarship beneficiaries over the past two years, fostering peace, security, and socio-economic transformation in the Niger Delta.

“The programme empowers youths with education and knowledge to compete globally and gain meaningful employment,” he said, adding that vocational training will also be expanded.

Dr Otuaro expressed gratitude to National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu for supervising PAP under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and encouraged Niger Delta residents to back the President’s re-election.