The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has said its enforcement of the Federal Government’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) policy has helped expose alleged fake beneficiaries and individuals suspected of exploiting the scheme.
The programme maintained that the policy is necessary to improve transparency, prevent corruption and ensure that funds reach legitimate beneficiaries.
In a statement issued through the administrator’s Special Assistant on Media, Igoniko Oduma, the PAP office defended the reforms introduced under its administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, while rejecting allegations and criticism directed at his leadership.
The office said it would not abandon the BVN requirement in response to pressure from individuals seeking to influence its operations. It also challenged those disputing its decisions to present themselves for verification.
According to the programme, the reforms are intended to strengthen accountability and ensure that public resources are used for their intended purposes. It alleged that some of its critics were unhappy with changes to the management of funds and the refusal to approve what it described as questionable contract demands.
The PAP further highlighted its reported interventions in education, skills development and employment, including scholarships for 13,300 onshore beneficiaries and more than 500 offshore beneficiaries.
Other initiatives listed by the programme included the distribution of laptops, continued payment of monthly stipends to former agitators, the employment of four cadet pilots and 20 aviation trainees after training, and on-the-job training for 40 cadets.
It also reported professional certification for 98 maritime cadets and training for more than 360 stakeholders in alternative dispute resolution and mediation.
The programme said it remained committed to using its resources to promote lasting peace and security in the Niger Delta, insisting that the BVN policy was part of efforts to sanitise its operations.
The claims concerning fake beneficiaries and alleged misconduct remain the programme’s position as presented in its statement.
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