The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) yesterday announced the commencement of a five-week mandatory training for 20 ex-Niger Delta agitators as aircraft maintenance engineers.
The interim administrator of PAP, Maj. Gen. Barry Ndiomu, disclosed this in Lagos during the flag-off of training for the second batch of the beneficiaries.
The administrator explained that the beneficiaries were part of the 75 pilots/aircraft maintenance engineers under the PAP Aviation Training Scheme, out of which a first set of 20 aircraft maintenance engineers were churned out on October 31, 2023.
Ndiomu, who was represented by PAP’s Head of Reintegration, Mr. Wilfred Musa, said the training will lead to the certification and type rating of the beneficiaries as licensed aircraft maintenance engineers.
He added that a 12-month on-the-job training will precede the certification.
Ndiomu said the global aviation industry is expanding at a rapid pace and manpower development is being emphasised by both the industry operators and regulators.
With the training, he said PAP has become a critical supplier of strategic manpower to the global aviation industry.
The administrator added that PAP was determined to sustain the momentum of creating cutting-edge opportunities for the career advancement of the Niger Delta people.
He therefore charged the beneficiaries to disprove naysayers that the programme was a waste of resources, by striving to be the best.
“You represent not just the future of the Niger Delta, but the future of Nigeria and the global aviation industry. The PAP has provided you with all you require to succeed on this journey; what you owe us in return is excellence,” he said.
