AS the Nigerian Government grapples with a
horrific Islamist insurgency in the North East,
an International conflict prevention group has
warned that if the Muhammadu Buhari
administration fails to urgently address the
“long-simmering grievances” and deprivation in
the oil rich Niger Delta, the region could soon
erupt in violence again.
In its latest report issued September 29, the
International Crisis Group warned that
increasing complaints over chronic poverty and
oil pollution as the Presidential Amnesty
Programme for ex-militants reaches its twilight,
may fuel a renewed rebellion in the region.
The group observed that since the defeat of
Goodluck Jonathan, who is a native of the region
in March, some activists have resumed their
“agitation for greater resource control and self-
determination” while some ex-militants have
threatened to return to the creeks to resume the
armed struggle that characterised the region
prior to the amnesty programme.
At its peak in 2009, the insurgency in the Niger
Delta cut Nigeria’s oil output by over 50 per cent
and was costing the government close to four
billion naira (nearly $19 million) per day in
counter-insurgency operations, according to the
International Crisis Group
An amnesty programme put in place by the
government in 2009 helped in reducing violence
in the region.
The report however said the programme failed
woefully to address the inherent causes of
violence in the region such as poverty, youth
unemployment and environmental pollution
caused primarily by oil spills.
“The government has largely failed to carry out
other recommendations that addressed the
insurgency’s root causes, including inadequate
infrastructure, environmental pollution, local
demands for a bigger share of oil revenues,
widespread poverty and youth unemployment,”
the report observed.
According to the report, the original
arrangement where militants in the amnesty
programme were paid through their leaders
helped in making fighters dependent on their
leaders as well as solidify the bond between
them in such a way that makes it easy for the
militant leaders to rally their fighters to cause
trouble.
The report stated that because the stipend paid
to ex-militants ( N65,000) is way more than the
national minimum wage of N18,000 many ex-
militants have become indolent and instead of
seeking paid employment, rely on the stipend.
It however said stopping the payment of the
stipend may create serious security challenges.
“There is a serious mismatch between the
training the former militants receive and the job
market. At the end of March 2015, reportedly
only 151 of the 15,451 graduates from the
training programs had found jobs with credible
organisations in the country.
“Many currently being trained have high
expectations of positions in oil, gas and aviation
companies, but industry sources insist there
presently is limited room to absorb many job-
seeker. Frustrated graduates may be tempted to
return to militancy or violent crime, only now
better educated and more likely capable of
extracting new concessions from the federal
government,” it noted.
The report also pointed out that the cancellation
of the pipeline protection contracts of some ex-
militant leaders by President Muhammadu
Buhari is likely to push some these militant
leaders to resume their arms campaign against
the government.
It added many militants leaders have become
stupendously wealthy and politically influential
following years of government patronage during
the Goodluck Jonathan administration thereby
increasing their capacities to cause mayhem or
make higher demands from government.
The organisation slammed former President
Jonathan administration for paying “less
commitment to the crucial tasks of improving
infrastructure, restoring the environment and
enhancing livelihoods. In spite of promises and
substantial appropriations, little progress has
been made”.
Ineffective Ministry and agencies
The report stated that the Ministry of Niger
Delta Affairs, the Niger Delta Development
Commission, NDDC and other agencies created
to address Niger Delta related issues such as oil
spills and environmental degradation have
woefully failed to meet the expectations of the
people.
The report noted that the NDDC for instance,
has only completed 37 per cent (2,328 out of
6,349) of projects launched since 2000. In fact,
Mr Jonathan lamented in December 2013 that
the NDDC has little on ground to justify the huge
appropriations it gets.
The report observed that corruption is the main
cancer plaguing the commission as it may have
become a conduit through which funds are
“pumped into the pockets of politically
connected individuals than a vehicle for the
region’s development.”
“Some politicians, especially in the federal
legislative committees on Niger Delta
development, and also in the Delta states
assemblies, are alleged to view and manipulate
it as their cash cow.”
Similarly, the report stated that the Ministry of
Niger Delta has let little impact in the region.
“Many of its projects are incomplete or long
abandoned. Its flagship effort, the 338km east-
west highway that initially ran from Warri in
Delta state to Oron in Akwa Ibom state and is
being extended to Calabar in Cross River state is
significantly over budget and still under
construction, despite repeated assurances of
imminent completion.”
“Public confidence has diminished. In April
2013, Ondo state oil-producing communities
demanded it be disbanded. In March 2014,
Senator James Manager, chairman of the Senate
committee on the Niger Delta, observed that it
had “failed to commission a single project since
its creation.”
It stated that people of the region as lost
confidence in the ability of the Ministry in
addressing the issues that plague them. It added
that the effectiveness of the Ministry is further
hampered by cascading budgetary allocations
and lack of patronage from donors.
“Donors have failed to finance a proposed $10
billion multi-stakeholder trust fund for a ten-
year Niger Delta Development Action Plan,
unveiled in 2013.
“Performance is hampered in several ways,
beginning with dwindling budgets. Of the 456
billion naira (about $2.8 billion) the ministry
received over six years, 2009-2014, 349 billion
naira ($2.1 billion) went to the east-west
highway. Like the NDDC, it has not received all
its appropriations.”
Just like the NDDC, deep-seated corruption has
also contributed to the ministry’s
ineffectiveness, the report noted.
Recommendations
Though the report admitted that there are no
indications that these disgruntled militant
groups will actually mobilise against the
government, the report recommended a series
of measures to prevent the eruption of violence
in the region:
It advised Mr Buhari to visit the Niger Delta as
soon as possible “to underscore his commitment
to the region and lay out a comprehensive plan
for its security and development.”
It also suggested that the amnesty programme
should be wound down gradually so to ensure
registered ex-militants to complete their
training.
It also called on the government to scrap the
Ministry of Niger Delta and to initiate a holistic
reform of the NDDC to “make it a more
accountable and effective agency.”
The report called on the government to take
steps to prevent environmental degradation by
empowering and making the Hydrocarbon
Pollution Restoration Project independent from
the petroleum ministry.
It added that government should work closely
with the House of Assembly to accelerate the
passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill and called
on major oil companies such as Shell and Eni to
prevent oil spills and create jobs for local youth.

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