The Nigerian government has issued N1.5 billion to kick-start a cooperation scheme introduced for repentant Niger-Delta militants.
According to Barry Ndiomu, the President of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, the funds are for the scheme named ‘PAP Cooperative Society Limited (PAPCOSOL), which was launched on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, to enable ex-militants to start up enterprises that will enable them to become self-sufficient.
He explained that the scheme was birthed in order to minimise their dependence on the N65,000 monthly stipend from the Federal Government.
Ndiomu stated that the funds, which are in the coffers of Providus Bank, would serve as a kick-start for the project and that his office planned to support it with N500 million monthly.
Justice Francis Tabai, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court and member of the National Judicial Council, was appointed chairman to oversee the affairs of the scheme.
“The whole essence of this scheme is to discourage reliance on the monthly stipends, which you will all agree with me has brought a culture of indolence and is not in our best interest. So, we have decided that rather than giving them fish, we should teach them how to fish,” Tabai said.
In appreciation, Henry Ekes, the leader of the ex-militants, praised the Federal Government for introducing the scheme.
