Buhari renews Dikio’s tenure as amnesty programme administrator

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the renewal of the appointment of Milland Dikio as coordinator of the presidential amnesty programme.

The amnesty programme was established in 2009 by the federal government during the tenure of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. It is focused on the disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) of ex-militants in the Niger Delta region.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, said: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the renewal of appointment of Colonel MD Dikio (Rtd) as Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for another one-year tenure.

“Col. Dikio was first appointed in August 2020, and has, despite the challenges, been able to command widespread respect amongst the various stakeholders in the Niger Delta.”

Buhari had, in August 2020, fired Charles Dokubo as coordinator of the amnesty programme and appointed Dikio as interim administrator.

Dikio, who is from Rivers state, retired from the army as a colonel in July 2004.