Business
FG Supports Ex-Agitators With N1.5B Cooperative Program
On Wednesday, Major General Barry Ndiomu (retd.), the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Program, announced that the Federal Government has allocated N1.5 billion to assist a cooperative initiative benefiting 30,000 ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region.
The goal of the program is to promote the self-sufficiency of the militants and reduce their reliance on the monthly stipends of N65,000.
Major General Ndiomu revealed that the PAP Cooperative Society Limited has been launched in Abuja, and an initial deposit of N1.5 billion has been made at Providus Bank to facilitate the implementation of the scheme.
The program aims to allocate N500 million on a monthly basis to provide ongoing support to the ex-agitators. Presently, the cooperative scheme is exclusively focused on benefiting the former agitators
He expressed optimism that as the funds increase, they would expand to impacted communities and that the scheme would also benefit several people across the region.
He said “We on our part, will continue to support the cooperative with additional finance and the plan going forward is to provide a minimum of N500 million every other month to sustain it.
“The whole essence is to discourage reliance on the monthly stipends which you will all agree with me has brought the culture of indolence and is not in our best interest. So we have decided that rather than give them fish we should teach them how to fish,” he added.
Ndiomu emphasized that the primary objective of the initiative is to establish an alternative economic development scheme that would offer ex-agitators a sustainable and more prosperous source of income to foster the socio-economic growth of both their communities and the overall region.
Ndiomu further outlined that the ex-agitators themselves would take charge of managing the cooperative scheme, while the PAP office, along with its consultants, would closely supervise its operations.
He revealed that an Advisory Board, led by Justice Francis Tabai from the Supreme Court, would oversee and monitor the program.
Ndiomu clarified that the cooperative would collaborate with PAP beneficiaries to identify business opportunities that align with their respective skills to establish and develop these ventures into profitable enterprises.
Additionally, Ndiomu highlighted that the beneficiaries would receive technical and business development support to help them establish and sustain viable businesses to empower them to meet essential needs, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to the economic growth of the Niger Delta region.
The Interim Administrator, in his address, disclosed that the PAP’s focus would be on rice production as they have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with communities to facilitate the development of rice farms.
Furthermore, he stated that discussions are underway with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture to explore potential collaborations in this area.
The ultimate goal is for the ex-agitators to transition into entrepreneurs, and it is anticipated that the monthly stipends of N65,000 will be gradually phased out as they become self-sufficient.
One of the ex-agitators, HRM Henry Ekes, expressed his appreciation for the scheme, acknowledging that many of them had been concerned about their future prospects since returning to the creeks and engaging in disruptive activities was not a viable option.
Ekes highlighted that several other agitators were also in favor of the scheme, and he consistently encouraged them to view it as the path towards self-reliance.
He emphasized the significance of embracing the program, noting that its success would not only be advantageous for the ex-agitators themselves but would also bring benefits to the Niger Delta region as a whole.
The NNPC Limited has raised alarm over what it described as a growing wave of fraudulent claims suggesting that the company is selling refinery scrap materials and equipment to individuals and private entities.
In a public notice by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company categorically dismissed the claims as false, clarifying that it has not initiated or approved any process for the sale of scrap metals, refinery components, or equipment from any of its facilities.
According to the company, it has neither issued requests for bids, tenders, nor expressions of interest relating to such transactions, contrary to information being circulated in some quarters.
More troubling, the company revealed that certain individuals have been impersonating NNPC officials, falsely presenting themselves as authorised agents to facilitate the sale of so-called refinery scrap.
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“These individuals are not authorised by NNPC Limited and are attempting to mislead members of the public,” the statement noted, highlighting the sophistication of the fraudulent scheme.
The development raises concerns about the exploitation of public trust and the potential financial risks to unsuspecting individuals and businesses.
NNPC therefore urged stakeholders, corporate organisations, and the general public to exercise vigilance and avoid engaging in any transaction linked to such claims.
“For the avoidance of doubt, NNPC Limited is not conducting, nor has it authorised, any sale of refinery scrap or equipment,” the company reiterated.
It further emphasised that any legitimate disposal of assets would be carried out through transparent, regulated processes and communicated through its official platforms.
The company also encouraged the public to report suspected fraudsters to law enforcement agencies, as part of efforts to curb the spread of such criminal activities.
NNPC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the responsible stewardship of Nigeria’s energy assets.
The NNPC Foundation Limited/Gte, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), has won the CSR Champion Award (Health) 2025 instituted by the Independent Newspapers.
Biztellers reports that the award was presented during the Silver Jubilee edition of the Independent Newspapers Awards, themed “Game Changers: Breaking Barriers and Shaping Tomorrow,” held at Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday, 18 April 2026.
The CSR Champion Award (Health) recognises the Foundation’s work in healthcare and its broader commitment to improving lives through social investment programmes spanning health, education, environment, and access to energy.Primary & Secondary Schooling (K-12)
The recognition follows a series of health initiatives delivered by the Foundation, including free cataract screening and surgeries that restored sight to over 6,000 Nigerians, including minors born blind; cancer and glaucoma interventions; medical outreaches to underserved communities; renovation and furnishing of three wards with 100 beds at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi; partnership and sponsorship of heart surgeries; and provision of dental health accessories to children in special schools, among others.
The NNPC Foundation noted that these results were made possible through the leadership and support of the NNPC Ltd. Management team, whose commitment has continued to strengthen the Foundation’s capacity to deliver social investments across the country.
Reacting to the award, the Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, described the recognition as a validation of the Foundation’s work and the trust placed in it by Nigerians. She noted that the award means so much to the company because it represents the confidence Nigerians have placed in its work and the value they see in purposeful social investment.
“It speaks to the resilience of the communities we serve, the dedication of our team, and the strength of partnerships that have enabled us to do meaningful work in health, education, environmental sustainability and access to energy,” she added.
In addition, Arukwe noted that “these results have also been made possible through the leadership and support of the NNPC Ltd. Management team, whose backing has been instrumental to the success of the Foundation’s work. We receive this award with gratitude, and with a renewed sense of responsibility to do more and reach further across the country.”
The NNPC Foundation Limited/Gte remains committed to advancing health interventions that improve outcomes and contribute to national development.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), through its Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI) Division, in collaboration with the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sonatrach, the Algerian National Oil Company, for cooperation in research, development, and innovation.
The agreement, signed by NNPC Ltd’s Executive Vice President, Business Services, Sophia Mbakwe, and Sonatrach’s Managing Director, Khodjah Mohamed, establishes a formal framework for joint work in research and technology exchange between the two national oil companies.
This was contained in the press statement issued on Thursday by Chief Corporate Communications Officer Mr. Andy Odeh.
According to the statement, the agreement, held during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Meeting of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) Forum for R&D Directors at the PTDF Tower in Abuja, Nigeria, brought together research and development directors from APPO member countries.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, represented by former Secretary General of APPO, Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said the forum was one of four measures introduced by APPO to address challenges from the global energy transition, which center on funding, technology, and markets.
“The R&D forum tackles technology and expertise needs, the African Energy Bank addresses funding constraints, and the Central African Pipeline System supports regional oil and gas market integration,” Lokpobiri stated.
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Earlier in his remarks, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, represented by the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, Adedapo Segun, said research and development must form a central part of the overall strategy in the African oil and gas industry.
He called for research and development centres to function as engines of industrial competitiveness. “Collaboration in research and development is of strategic importance. The cost of innovation might be high, but the cost of obsolescence would be greater,” he stressed.
Ojulari called for a unified strategic framework through which resources could be pooled, data integrated, and risks shared across member countries.
He further urged the rapid adoption of digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and advanced engineering to improve upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
On his part, the APPO Secretary General, Farid Ghezali, urged African petroleum-producing countries to ensure research in the oil and gas sector produced solutions that are practical and directly relevant to the continent. “We must ensure that our research delivers solutions that are practical and of direct use to Africa,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Prof. Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, highlighted the value of the partnership between NNPC Limited and PTDF in supporting decarbonization and environmental protection efforts across APPO member countries.
Chief Innovation Officer of NNPC Research, Technology and Innovation and incoming Chairman of the APPO R&D Directors Forum, Rasheed Ojulari, said the forum would give immediate priority to joint programs in the core areas of upstream optimization, artificial intelligence, decarbonisation processes, and industrial systems development.
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