Over 2,000 Niger Delta students studying in the
United Kingdom and other parts of the world
under the Presidential Amnesty Programme have
protested against the non-payment of their
tuition fees, in-training allowances and
accommodation fees.
The students, who protested on Sunday in
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, lamented that
since the appointment of the substantive
Coordinator for the PAP, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh,
their conditions had worsened.
The students, who expressed their grievances
through their coordinators in Swansea University,
UK, Mr. Elliot Yibakeni, and Emomotimi Ziprebo
of Birmingham City University, UK, noted that the
Federal Government’s indifference had left them
frustrated and disillusioned.
They said, “We are protesting on behalf of the
over 2,000 abandoned and dejected Nigerian
students of Niger Delta extraction studying in the
United Kingdom and other parts of the world
under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
“Sadly, since the appointment of Coordinator for
PAP, Paul Boroh, nothing has changed for us,
rather the situation is becoming more precarious
each passing day.
“We wish to tell Nigerians and the international
community that as we speak, Niger Delta
students are frustrated and disillusioned because
of uncertainty with regard to the prolonged delay
and non-payment of tuition fees, in-training
allowances, accommodation fees and other
stipends that will aid our stay in foreign lands.
“We are now a bout of joke around the world
especially in the UK and have practically turned
refugees and laughing stock in our respective
cities where the institutions are. We have just
received the news of the death of one of our
fellow students in the University of Belarus due
to the present hardship faced by the students.”
The students claimed that some students on the
amnesty programme in Malaysia had been
arrested and were daily subjected to inhuman
treatment because they could not meet their
obligations.
They wondered why the Amnesty Office had
failed to implement President Muhammadu
Buhari’s directive that the students should be
paid their allowances urgently.
They added, “As of the moment, schools in UK
and other parts of the world have started
resuming for fresh academic sessions.
Unfortunately, Niger Delta students may not be
able to join their colleagues in their various
institutions of higher learning because of the
delay in meeting their financial obligations.
“Worse still, students that did foundation
programmes in the UK and were successful are
currently denied visas by the UK embassy
because of the yet to be resolved challenges
experienced by the students.
“All the relevant authorities are aware of this
development but because it affects the people of
the Niger Delta, they seem not to bat an eyelid.”
The students appealed to President Buhari and
other well-meaning individuals to save them and
the PAP from imminent collapse.
Particularly, they urged the President to match
action with words in seeing that the funds were
released on time for the beneficiaries of the
programme.
The students, who said they had exhausted
every peaceful means of amicable resolution of
the issue, noted that they might be tempted to
direct the various chapters across the world to
embark on a massive demonstration in the
capitals and state houses where Nigerian leaders
reside.

www.punchng.com/news/amnesty-ndelta-students-abroad-protest-non-payment-of-allowances/

Presido Buhaha oooo.... Pay boys our bar