August 29, (THEWILL) – The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has dismissed reports of an alleged conflict with the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dikio (rtd).
An online platform had reported that the NSA and the Amnesty boss are at loggerheads over tenure extension.
The ONSA in a statement on Sunday by its Head of Communication, Zakari Usman, denied allegations against the NSA, retired Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno, adding that the reports were concocted to stoke confusion and mislead the public.
While reassuring the full support and confidence of the NSA to PAP, Usman said Monguno has urged stakeholders and amnesty beneficiaries to continue to support the PAP reforms.
He said: “The attention of the Office of the National Security Adviser has been drawn to an online news report published on August 28, 2021 by pointblanknews.com implying that the National Security Adviser and the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme are on the warpath over tenure extension.
“The report is false and concocted to stoke confusion and mislead the public.
“Therefore, stakeholders across the Niger Delta, the public and the media are advised to disregard and dismiss the report as a spurious work of journalism.
“The Amnesty beneficiaries are equally encouraged to continue to support the ongoing reform of the Programme. For the avoidance of doubt, the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme enjoys the full support and confidence of the National Security Adviser.”
Meanwhile, the PAP has closed the scholarship application portal for the 2020/2021 academic session.
A statement by Dikio announced that the office had commenced the screening of submitted applications.
Successful applicants would be directly contacted.
The administrator, however, acknowledged that some people encountered hitches.
“This is the first digital platform for the scholarship scheme, we are fine-tuning the system to ensure a fluid system and the satisfaction of all,” he noted.
Dikio said in the event of a need to re-open the application portal, the decision will be publicised.
