Nigeria, Germany To Partner On Niger Delta’s Development

Bernhard Schlagheck, German Ambassador to Nigeria, said on Tuesday that the embassy would collaborate with the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) in providing skills acquisition for Niger Delta ex-agitators.

Schlagheck, gave this indication when he led officials of the embassy on a courtesy visit to Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the programme in Abuja.

He said that Nigeria was a country with great potentials, which needed a peaceful and secure environment for it to be realised.

“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,” he said.

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

He said that training and provision of jobs for ex- agitators after their training in Nigeria and in diaspora required functional collaboration with the international community.

He, however, used the visit to seek more practical support from The German embassy 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.

NAN recalls that PAP had earlier collaborated with the Embassy of the Netherlands and Israeli Embassy to explore ways to engage the beneficiaries of the Programme.