Seeking Peace in the Niger Delta: Oil, Natural Gas and Other Vital Resources
Publisher: New England Journal of Public Policy
Author(s): Dareen Kew and David L. Phillips
Date: 2013
Topics: Extractive Resources, Governance
Countries: Nigeria
Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta region has seen little benefit from the billions of dollars earned from oil over the last four decades, prompting a growing but disorganized insurgency across the region. Irresponsible oil companies and government actors have reduced the Niger Delta to one of the most polluted environments on earth. Corrupt local and national politicians, many of whom achieved power through rigged elections, have colluded to manipulate ethnic divisions and poverty in order to continue looting the region’s wealth. Consequently, the people of the Niger Delta have no formal political voice in Nigeria’s nascent democratic system, increasing the attractiveness of militias as alternatives for political influence and economic sustenance.
Reversing the governance crisis in the Niger Delta requires credible elections, respecting political opposition, and disarming the militias. In order to achieve these, a serious public dialogue process is necessary to address the fundamental governance crisis in the region and to build confidence among the many communities of the Niger Delta that the democratic system can meet their legitimate needs for socioeconomic development.
Resolving the crisis in the Niger Delta requires a host of solutions as complex as the many communities that constitute the region. Yet the many facets of the conflicts in the region share a common thread: neither the Nigerian government nor the multinational oil companies are talking in a comprehensive, systematic fashion with the communities who live there and are affected by their actions. The president or governors meet on occasion with key militia leaders in response to hostage taking or outbreaks of violence, and individual oil companies negotiate with individual community leaders on occasion, but neither government nor business is working in a region-wide, participatory fashion. President Yar’Adua initiated a region-wide amnesty program in 2009, but only a small portion of the militants were disarmed, and more were added to state and federal government benefit packages that essentially bought the loyalties of the militias rather than dismantling them.
Prompt remedial action is required by the Nigerian government, opposition forces, civil society groups, oil corporations, and international actors in the Niger Delta. They must undertake serious measures to reverse the governance crisis in the oil-producing region by holding credible elections, respecting political opposition, and continuing efforts to disarm the militias. In order to achieve these, the Nigerian government must open a serious public dialogue process that addresses the fundamental governance crisis in the region and builds confidence among the many communities of the Niger Delta that the democratic system can meet their legitimate needs for socioeconomic development.