This is a major question on the lips of every well-meaning Nigerian following the deterioration of the country’s economy in recent times.
In the real sense of things, if the government is keen on negotiating with the militants, several seats need to be prepared for the occasion.More than a dozen groups have emerged since attacks on oil pipelines started earlier this year, each claiming their own constituencies and making their own demands.

While some in the Niger Delta say dialogue is the best way to save lives and quell the ongoing insurgency, others say the government’s July decision to talk with the militant groups is merely encouraging them.

What do the militants want?

Trouble started earlier this year when a group calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers took credit for a series of blasts targeting pipelines and other types of oil infrastructure that severely disrupted Nigeria’s oil output.They claim to be fighting for a greater share of oil revenue in the delta, which was also the demand of militant groups who fought in the delta until 2009, when the government started paying them off and offering job training as part of an amnesty program.

Nigeria’s state-owned oil company said in a statement released last week that the recent violence in the delta could be “crippling” to the industry. Production has dropped to 1.5 million barrels per-day, from its usual level of around 2.2 million barrels.Nigeria is now in a recession due to a shortfall in oil revenue.

The Avengers have since been joined by other groups namely; Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, Utorogun Liberation Movement, Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate, Red Scorpion and the Reformed Egbesu Boys.

The militants are criminals

According to Mr Edward Ekpoko, the chairman of a development organization based in the delta city of Warri.

“They are criminals. Their activities are criminal.You see, it’s like saying government is harmonizing armed robbers, so they can dialogue not to rob again. It’s an impossibility.”

Many would agree that there is truth in what Mr. Ekpoko is saying but on the other hand, dialogue still remains the best option. The country as it is right now has not fully recovered from the Boko Haram menace……in fact we are still in an active war against them. Starting another battle in the Niger-Delta is not very sensible in any way and here is why;

These militants are not just ordinary hungry,trigger-happy,attention-seeking individuals. a large number of them are trained and skilled in military tactics and amphibian training. They are intelligent and plan their moves ahead. They also possess state-of-the-art weaponry.

Secondly, Starting a war with these militants will cost more lives and money. Money we are currently struggling to get.

Thirdly, starting a war will do more harm than good. Our oil supply will further diminish and the nation’s economy will deteriorate more.

The Niger-Delta will be ruined and countless lives will be lost. Also bear in mind that there will be prevalence of war-crimes.

lastly, This is guerrilla warfare…the most difficult type of battle…..and it involves 2 terrains…land and water. If a war is started..it wont be like the war we had with Boko Haram…this one will be more perilous.

In my opinion, The government still needs to push for further negotiation. The government recently launched 'operation crocodile smile' as a kind of show of force but honestly i don't think that is the right path to tow.

Lawrence Dube, the head of the governance team at the Niger Delta-based Center for Environment, Human Rights and Development openly said that negotiation would be useful in preventing violence in the delta from escalating. It is true that other countries like America do not negotiate with terrorists and we should follow in their footsteps but see...America has the resources to fight a long war...they have advanced weaponry and THEIR ECONOMY IS BUOYANT!..they can afford to say that they don't negotiate with terrorists/militants. Nigeria for now cannot afford to tow that path.

In his words;

“It’s very difficult to detect the real identity of these people. We’ve not been able to capture anybody. Our government intelligence has not been able to provide any reality regarding who is who and who is really not who"

Mr. Dube's words are true in every sense. I still strongly believe negotiation is the key.

Written by Dumebi,

Publisher, Politics Nigeria
http://politicsngr.com/nigerian-government-negotiate-niger-delta-avengers/

cc: lalasticlala , mynd44

Things are falling apart.
They should negotiate, if that will help.

Dont negotiate with them.... But let the oil companies or host communities keep a percentage of their production... Even if it is 5%... To build up/develop the host communities directly. That will put an end to the agitations.

Chevron, Agip and Sterling have been supplying 24/7 power supply and building community roads for their host communities while the state/local govt sit down doing nothing

NDDC tried initially but as corruption and nepotism entered, they became useless like the state/local govt.

I'm sure sure some people here don't know what a host community really is sha. They're small hapless villages where the oil wells are actually drilled ... And gas is flared there too.

NDDC/State government projects are mainly located in the cities leaving actual oil producing villages in squalor.... I don't know this is so but I guess it is because the cost of doing projects in oil producing villages is very very expensive due to swampy/water logged terrain.

It is useless building roads there cos the roads won't survive a year... Only bridges will do. To build 5km host community bridges for 10 billion or build 20 km outside the host communities for the same 10billion, which will you choose? But it is actually the host communities money so it is wrong for the government to spend it outside the host communities.

The people there are suffering. Nigerians for other tribes can't understand why the FG should give a tiny community in Delta 10 billion "just because they produce oil". Those people don't even know what gas flaring is like and neither do they know what a swamp is.

They will be saying... " let their leaders account for the billions they are collecting..." As if billion naira is big money. The ground in Oyo for example, is very hard. I can just clear d road with excavator, use a roller to level the earth surface and pour tar.... 10bn will build 50km road in Oyo that way.

You can't build roads in Nigeria Delta that way. By the time you sand fill 5km swamp and build drainage, that 10bn has finished. However, if they are asking for more, they deserve it.

A single Niger Delta oil producing village can produce N100bn monthly for Nigeria. Salaries of strangers in Sokoto, Taraba, Borno are paid from what that small community produces. But what does Sokoto Taraba or Oyo state for example contribute to the federtion account apart from small VAT? I don't know.

Yet they will come online and be insulting Niger Deltans for demanding a tiny fraction of what they produce. Mtchew.

[size=28pt] no. The military have enough military strength to destroy Niger Delta militia in less than 7 days.

The military is only waiting for them to show face. But it is now 7 days of operation crocodile smile.. the so call Niger Delta have ran into hidden.

The should show face.


7 days for God sake is enough for them to show face like boko haram but to my surprise. They ran.

Coward][/size]

We just want an ending solution to this lingerie crisis.