₦airaland Forum

rhynno:
I prefer to trek frm Lagos to abuja.

..dan reading dis encyclopedia...

LouisVanGaal:
Resource control isn't the problem! The problem of Nigeria has always hinged on leadership..without devoted and inspiring leadership; even if we practice federalism, it. Would still fail! Name one credible politician from SE/SW/SS or North?? Federalism WOULD have made sense then. When leaders from each region were fighting just course....Give resource control of oil to SS/ND and watch how tompolo, Asari, ateke,timi alaibe and co ud clash...Resource control is good, don't get me wrong, but some persons ud use it to advance selfish course...Same goes for Biafra..

jerrywool:
Imagine!

LRNZH:
The Niger Delta brand of uprising we witness today is no longer noble. Militancy has caused a major drawback than a net advantage to the Niger Delta. It has no 'cool' factor.



Does Violence Hold the Answer?
Militancy took on more violent turns when Ijaw dominated armed groups like the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF) led by Mujahid Asari-Dokubo and the Niger Delta Vigilante (NDV) led by Ateke Tom were formed with political support. The intense confrontation between the NDPVF and NDV seems to have been brought about by Asari’s political falling out with the NDPVF’s financial supporter Peter Odili, governor of Rivers State following the April 2003 elections. The Odili government withdrew its financial support from the NDPVF and began to support Tom’s NDV, effectively launching a paramilitary campaign against the NDPVF because Asari publicly criticised the election process as fraudulent.

Matters came to a head when the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) came into the fray around 2006 with heightened kidnapping of oil workers for ransom, Nigerian soldiers, piracy and the destruction of oil facilities. Today, we have the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) who are asking for release of Nnamdi Kanu (a Biafra dissident and secessionist), and Dasuki (the former National Security Adviser who was taken into custody for spearheading the pilferage of over $2 Billion security funds earmarked to fight the Boko Haram insurgency) amongst other requests including secession. The NDA have brought Nigeria's oil production to a 20 year low of 1 million barrels per day from over 2 million barrels per day through oil facilities vandalism.



The Opportunity Costs of Violence
The thrust of this write-up is to make an expose of the mostly negative impact of the armed uprisings in this oil-wealthy region which has has hurt rather than progressed it's people's cause.

There are proponents of armed militancy who claim the Niger Delta's problems would not be highlighted enough without violence. I believe that the past successive military administrations have been the major cause of the neglect of Nigerians and Niger Deltans specifically. Non-violent activism ala Ken Saro Wiwa, and Ogoni women who in the early 1990s formed the Federation of Ogoni Women (FOWA) are the alternatives. In 2002, nonviolent protests by women from different ethnic groups in the Delta led to the occupation of oil platforms. It was widely agreed that peaceful means in engaging both multinational oil companies and the Nigerian state, women have been remarkably successful in realizing demands for economic empowerment and advanced the important process of raising awareness and attracting much needed support, thereby increasing the potential for a peaceful means to resistance. Non violent protests by these women brought the plight of the Ogonis to international limelight.

https://www.redpepper.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/warri-protest.jpg
Red Pepper
Women demonstrators protest in Warri circa 2002

It is a not a zero sum game. The Niger delta can still make its case, be heard within reason and avoid incredibly disadvantageous opportunity costs especially in a democracy without resorting to violence. It has been achieved in the past.

Below are some major losses due to Niger Delta from its long history of armed militancy:

1. Brass LNG Startup Delay and Potential Cancellation
After the successful take-off the Nigeria LNG (NLNG) project first train in Bonny Island, Rivers State around 1999, it became apparent that Nigeria could play big in the natural gas market. NLNG contributes up to 4% of Nigeria's GDP, provides 80% of Nigeria's cooking gas and has spun off two subsidiaries Bonny Gas Transport (BGT) and NLNG Ship Management Limited (NMSL) that have employed over 6,000 Niger Deltans every year it constructs its trains (the 7th train construction is ongoing). this is besides training of over 600 mostly Niger Deltans in country and at NLNG's contractors’ shipyard in Korea.

The Brass LNG (BLNG) project conceived in 2003, was to construct and operate a Liquified Natural Gas Plant to be sited on the Island of Brass in Bayelsa State from 2011. This will replicate the value NLNG has had on the Niger Delta and the rest of the country. The shareholders were Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) (49%), Eni International (17%), Phillips (Brass) Limited (an affiliate of ConocoPhillips) (17%) and Brass Holdings Company Limited (an affiliate of Total) (17%). The project has stalled partly because the militancy prone region was a risk to the multi-billion dollars investment needed to execute the project. In 2014, ConocoPhillips pulled out. In 2015, Total notified the other BLNG shareholders of its plan to withdraw from the project. This developments have put the planned Final investment Decision (FID) for the project in limbo. Siting an LNG project in the Niger Delta especially in restive Ijaw land is not a palatable proposition. This is lost income generation, wasted employment opportunities amongst other potential value loss to host communities.

It is worthy to note that the global LNG business is expanding rapidly. Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique and Algeria are constructing theirs (see chart below). The longer the BLNG project is delayed, the slimmer its chance of ever starting up due to alternative competing LNG sources in Africa and beyond which would have secured the markets the BLNG could supply liquefied gas to.
https://resources2.news.com.au/images/2012/06/05/1226385/345002-120606-b-lng-projects.jpg

2. Lack of Investment in the Downstream Sector by Oil Majors
I was privileged to have a conversation with a high level executive in one of the international oil majors. My question to him is why we do not have the majors investing in massive industrial complexes to be located in the Niger Delta that will provide gas or power to manufacturers in places like Aba, refine crude oil and supply petrochemicals. Such projects will have a huge market in the West African sub-region. Shell has one in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, ExxonMobil has a few in Singapore and in the US, Marathon also has one in in Los Angeles, USA to mention a few.
His response is that his company, like other companies recognised that potential in Nigeria and did some feasibility studies. The risk to such project is too huge considering that it requires several billion dollars investment and a long time to bring to fruition. He blatantly opined that the market is not the issue. In fact, it will change the Niger Delta and West Africa. Gas flaring will become history with such complexes.
It is apparent that the lack of peace in the Niger Delta due to militancy will never allow such projects to be considered. The business case is just not there. Ironically, even the fuel stations that are owned by the majors like Total and Mobil are being considered for divestment by their owners.

3. The Absence of Tourism and Increased Environmental Degradation.
With the rich natural habitat in the Niger Delta, tourism should be a major income earner for littoral states in Nigeria. Besides Cross River and Akwa-Ibom States, where relative peace prevails, the Niger Delta is not a popular tourist destination especially in the more restive western Niger Delta. Instead, comparatively less endowed biomes like those found in coastal Ghana, Gambia and Senegal take all that benefit of tourist attractions.
With rampant violence including destruction of pipeline and oil installations, the militants are unwittingly adding to the already polluted environment and making oil spill cleanups difficult for oil companies. This is is a shame. Period.

4. Potential Outsourcing Business Hub for Oil and Gas Servicing in the Gulf of Guinea
The Atlantic Coast of Africa (Gulf Of Guinea) has numerous hydrocarbon provinces stretching from offshore Ivory Coast, through Ghana, the Niger Delta in Benin, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroun, to offshore Gabon and Angola. Off these, Nigeria is the the most advanced in manpower development and most mature in oil gas history and experience. Port Harcourt, for example would naturally be the hub for skill-based companies and logistic services for the Gulf of Guinea oil and gas, maritime and offshore services in a parallel universe where peace prevails in the Niger Delta. We all know the reality. The majors and servicing companies moved their offices away from Warri and Port Harcourt in the late 1990s and early 2000s to avoid the incessant violent attacks by militants.
Also, globalisation and numerous trade agreements have led to outsourcing of jobs in Information Technology, Payroll Services, and Manufacturing. For example, a multinational will be headquartered in London or Houston, but it's logistics and ancillary services are run out of India, Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina, etc. The fact that Nigeria has English as its official language is a major advantage to becoming an outsourcing destination but this is not happening. We do not have consistent power supply or good level of education to warrant such a role. Instead we flare the gas that should be for power conversion and militants destroy gas lines to power stations. I see Accra, Luanda and maybe Lagos taking up this role in the future at the expense of a city on the Delta.

This list is not exclusive. Feel free to add other opportunity costs you can come up with.



Summary
Destroying oil facilities which are business investments to spite Nigerian authorities is hurting the Niger Delta on the long run. Let us put a stop to unfortunate short-term thinking and engage our representatives in the different tiers and arms of our democratic governments in a civil manner. Armed militants do not favour the development of the Niger Delta.

May Niger Delta and Nigeria Live Long in Peace with Unity and Progress

-LRNZH

macaranta:
LRZNH have raised some valid points,truth is as Nigerians we missed it when we stated pitting religion vs tribe instead of Elite vs masses.It is know fact that there has been some bitter rivalries between communities in the same town,state or region.Even if the actualization of all this sovereign states are achieved,what makes secessionists think it will be all smooth sailing.Sudan and south Sudan comes to mind.
Also it will be very unfair for Niger Deltans to seek a breakaway from Nigeria because crude oil is flowing,remember to ask yourself what Nigeria survived on before the 1958 Oloibiri crude oil discovery.
The same crop of corrupt freedom fighters,community leaders,NDDC bosses,leaders from the region that have shortchanged their indigenous people ,using their resources to live flamboyant lifestyles within and outsideNigeria,those are the people Niger Deltans should focus more on.MNCs payout different royalties and entitlements meant for the people and this same money end up in traditional rulers houses.
The only reason Lagos is prospering is because it has been peaceful and conducive for businesses to thrive,you don't expect investors to keep dogdging bullets while developing the Niger Delta.
Let's give Nigeria a chance,it is our patriotic duty to not kill her.
My only question is,what is the criteria for awarding oil blocks to individuals?

bejeiodus:
Your write up made an interesting read.
The Niger Delta crisis goes beyond your superficial attempt to explain it. There is a need to bring the people to the table and seek their thoughts on what should be done.
The agitation didn't start with Ken Saro Wiwa like you wrongly pointed out, but with Isaac Adaka Boro who declared that part of Nigeria an independent nation in 1966.
If a struggle has been on since 1966 and it is not showing signs of abating, does that not tell us that it requires more than a military presence?

This country urgently needs to be restructured and the wealth of the people put in their own hands.
A reworking of our federal system of government will do a lot to ease the tensions in the land.

I must admit that there has been a commercialisation of the struggle for pecuniary gains, so this government must go beyond enriching some few to the detriment of others. The people of the Niger Delta are only being fed crumbs of the food continuously cooked in their backyard, they really deserve a place at the dinner's table.

The current military action going on in the Niger Delta should be a stopgap measure. A successful victory should not make us lose sight of the need to treat the disease for the well being of the Niger Delta.
bb

LRNZH:
Lol... we dey wait for your comment o...

Lalasticlala, you dey so?

LRNZH:
Mon Ami, it was a constant battle in my head between providing details and keeping it to a short summary.
It should be worth the read though. We, Africans short change ourselves when we destroy ourselves and properties because of issues that we can smartly resolve with little or no violence. We should talk more and fight less.

BTW, I love your blog. Keep it up mon belle!

Thumbs up OP.

This is a very objective write up.

ND should stop seeing others regions as their primary problem. A lot has been conceded to the Region, in recognition of their contribution to the national coffers. Programmes such as NDDC, Amnesty Programmes, normal allocation, CSRs of Oil Majors, 13% derivation, Min of Niger Delta etc have all been created to better the lives of the people of ND. They were mostly headed by an indigene of ND. What is the achievement of all these initiatives in this region? Is the development on ground commensurate with the cumulative amount of fund allocated to that region under the various initiatives? The problem boils down to LEADERSHIP.

There should be a sense of accountability from the leaders of that region before there can be a moral justification for more. You cannot keep rewarding thugs and cultist while neglecting your professionals and infrastructural development and you expect people to ever take you serious.

A change in mentality and orientation away from violence as a means of getting result should be embraced.

The way forward for me is the continuous and sustained call for restructuring of Nigeria along Regions. Regionalism will automatically come with resource control as it was before the unfortunate coup of 1966.

People always say North will not support it. Who are the Norths -- NC, NW, NE. The only work South needs to do is to buld a consensus within and pull in NC or at least divide NC. That is all. Merely calling for resource control will never let others see things from your perspective. Regionalism benefits all.

SWG25:
Militancy occurs when there's a lack of social justice in the soceity. If a section of the society(Niger Delta) believe they're not being treated fairly (resource exploitation), they're bound to oppose their oppressors (the federal government) not minding the expense (environmental degradation).
The question we should ask is how do we promote social justice in Nigeria? Why aren't Nigerians concerned about the situation of the country? Violent activism are a norm in Nigeria and they will continue. Why?

Nigerians should look at the big picture and ask themselves why this country is prone to internal conflicts, violence, tensions and militancy? Millions of Nigerian lives have been lost due to these issues but Nigerians are not willing to ask why these things always happen? Its really annoying. In advanced countries, the preservation of human life and a peaceful soceity is sacrosanct, and this is achieved by promoting social justice and equity.

WeNigerDelta:
I stopped reading when you said the agitations by the women have been largely successful...It clearly shows your ignorance about the true state of events in the region...
Go and ask those same women, which of their demands were met long term....The govt and IOC paid lip service to save face in the international community, after that as usual shared some change to a few thieves and its business as usual....
The Ugborodo women are still working on how to take Chevron hostage again...They tried last year and were stopped, I'm sure they will try again...

macaranta:
LRZNH have raised some valid points,truth is as Nigerians we missed it when we stated pitting religion vs tribe instead of Elite vs masses.It is know fact that there has been some bitter rivalries between communities in the same town,state or region.Even if the actualization of all this sovereign states are achieved,what makes secessionists think it will be all smooth sailing.Sudan and south Sudan comes to mind.
Also it will be very unfair for Niger Deltans to seek a breakaway from Nigeria because crude oil is flowing,remember to ask yourself what Nigeria survived on before the 1958 Oloibiri crude oil discovery.
The same crop of corrupt freedom fighters,community leaders,NDDC bosses,leaders from the region that have shortchanged their indigenous people ,using their resources to live flamboyant lifestyles within and outsideNigeria,those are the people Niger Deltans should focus more on.MNCs payout different royalties and entitlements meant for the people and this same money end up in traditional rulers houses.
The only reason Lagos is prospering is because it has been peaceful and conducive for businesses to thrive,you don't expect investors to keep dogdging bullets while developing the Niger Delta.
Let's give Nigeria a chance,it is our patriotic duty to not kill her.
My only question is,what is the criteria for awarding oil blocks to individuals?

Koolking:
I couldn't help but 'Like & Share' your submissions. It made moral sense to me. We had this same discourse in our office this morning, with our MD/CEO lending his voice - opinions. As a Nigerian, I made my argument along this line. A lot has been given to these regions (I am privileged to witness some) but nothing has been shown for it. The leaders of these regions think nothing but incurable self-enrichment. They don't care and are not ready for real development of these regions. The oil companies are doing massive CSR, more often than not the funds end up in the pockets of community leaders.

Companies contracted to work for these oil companies in the regions are paying royalties to these communities before they can be allowed to work in peace. Royalties are in millions (depending on the value of your contracts). These monies end up in individual and minor few pockets. Sometimes they frustrate companies coming to invest in these communities, in terms building schools, road, SMEs - they prefer these gestures be converted to cash, while a few leaders pocket the money.

Their leaders impoverish the people more than the federal government. Ignorance (militancy) will worsen their dire situation. They think they can win by taking up arms and destroying the collective treasures. Wrong move! Niger Delta militants are a passing-phase, government will win at the end and continue to ignore them. Violence brings nothing but more violence and pains.

jerrywool:
Imagine!

Tijani Ramalan, board chairman of NIMASA, said Tompolo’s company was paid N1.5billion monthly by NIMASA to execute the contract.

WeNigerDelta:
Why you make some great point...You need to stop it with this, oh look at Lagos and you guys should learn crap...Why haven't other Yoruba states learnt and develop it like that, are they suddenly not as peaceful as Lagos...
Also not everywhere in the region is volatile, what about Akwa Ibom and Cross River? Are investors dodging billets there too? They are as peaceful and anywhere in Yorubaland, still they are no better than anywhere else in the ND...
We have given Nigeria a chance for 50 plus years...We have been more patriotic that y'all claiming patriots today...Tell me what's more patriotic that feeding everyone for half a century with nothing to show for it but Abuja and Lagos.
How about you guys be patriotic and tell your govt to make a concerted effort to develop the region for 10years like it did Abuja? How about movin the capital to the region for just a period to fast track such development? Nah Niger Deltans to deserve that right? We deserve a paltry 13% and lousy nddc n ministry.... What we want in development, they did it for Abuja with our money without setting up any AbujaDDC...Until then we will always agitate l, no amount of right ups will change our reality and mins on ground...

LRNZH:
The women should keep persevering. It will come to broad day light one day. By the way, their (women) protests are about real issues affecting the ND and not how to get pipeline protection contracts.

LRNZH:
I know where you're going but stop for a bit.

You cannot compare Calabar and Uyo to Yenagoa or Warri. The former 2 are more peaceful and better developed.

WeNigerDelta:
Why you make some great point...You need to stop it with this, oh look at Lagos and you guys should learn crap...Why haven't other Yoruba states learnt and develop it like that, are they suddenly not as peaceful as Lagos...
Also not everywhere in the region is volatile, what about Akwa Ibom and Cross River? Are investors dodging billets there too? They are as peaceful and anywhere in Yorubaland, still they are no better than anywhere else in the ND...
We have given Nigeria a chance for 50 plus years...We have been more patriotic that y'all claiming patriots today...Tell me what's more patriotic that feeding everyone for half a century with nothing to show for it but Abuja and Lagos.
How about you guys be patriotic and tell your govt to make a concerted effort to develop the region for 10years like it did Abuja? How about movin the capital to the region for just a period to fast track such development? Nah Niger Deltans to deserve that right? We deserve a paltry 13% and lousy nddc n ministry.... What we want in development, they did it for Abuja with our money without setting up any AbujaDDC...Until then we will always agitate l, no amount of right ups will change our reality and mins on ground...

LRNZH:
3. The Absence of Tourism and Increased Environmental Degradation.
With the rich natural habitat in the Niger Delta, tourism should be a major income earner for littoral states in Nigeria. Besides Cross River and Akwa-Ibom States, where relative peace prevails, the Niger Delta is not a popular tourist destination especially in the more restive western Niger Delta. Instead, comparatively less endowed biomes like those found in coastal Ghana, Gambia and Senegal take all that benefit of tourist attractions.
With rampant violence including destruction of pipeline and oil installations, the militants are unwittingly adding to the already polluted environment and making oil spill cleanups difficult for oil companies. This is is a shame. Period.

Shym3xx:
This argument has to be the most illogical/counterintuitive argument ever, since most of the proponents of this argument are fond to citing it only when pipelines are blown up, thus affecting the income/revenue the country generates from the oil sector. However, it seems they like feigning ignorance about the fact that environmental degradation via oil spillage and gas flaring has been happening in that region for decades. So, if you care that much about environmental degradation – why not critique the neglect that region has suffered from successive governments? Why cite that now when they’re demanding justice (rightfully so) and not during the different oil spillages by opportunistic oil companies? Why only care when revenue generation is affected? To tackle this issue objectively, you’ve to be open minded in your our outlook with a clear head. Fair enough, the militancy has more to do with self-interests than the actual interest of the people from that region. But that doesn’t negate the fact that the region is the most cheated in the country and, they deserve far more than they’re getting.

Also, the 2.2m barrel of oil Nigeria exports daily isn’t enough to cater to 180 million people and the earlier folks realise that, the better it would be for all of you. The owners of the oil deserve at least 50% of the revenue/income generated from it – while others need to look inwards for ways to maximise whatever potentials they’ve in their respective regions. The over-dependence on oil is counter-productive, hence the whole country is the way it’s. And the region that’s the most dependent on oil is the most backward region in the country. That’s not rocket science. Oil breeds a generation of lazy people/thinkers

You lot need to start critiquing objectively cos like MLK said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere”. Let these people enjoy what God blessed them with.

macaranta:
You have fed Nigeria for 50yrs?Very myopic statement.Uyo and calabar have been experiencing steady developmental strides.By development,I'm sure you meant good roads,water,health care etc ..thats something you should ask your state and local government leaders.
You call 13% derivation,NDDC,MNDA,the huge state allocations paltry?a bad workman always complain with his tools.Do you know how much MNCs pay communities just to explore and produce in peace?you share it and come back for more,doesn't work like that .

WeNigerDelta:
Yes it's paltry....Remember, you're not giving anything...It is mine, and I have given you 87% of what we're suppose to be getting for way too long...Yes we know our leaders are our major problem, but we look and you guys and we can see one thing you've done with the 87% for 50 plus years....Also how many years exactly have we had this ministry 13% that we will never hear the end of...

By development, I meant all that and jobs...Where are the jobs in Uyo? Have the thought of relocating any IOC headquarters to Uyo crossed anyone's mind? I don't know much about their healthcare, it can't be all that better than Delta's, their Uduaghan made strides in healthcare....Now go compare those hospitals and roads with the ones in Abuja, how about jobs or are they not peaceful enough? When Warri was peaceful did it stop the systematic shut down of NPA warri? Fun fact Tompolo used to work at NPA warri before they shut it down...

macaranta:
I could go back and forth with you all day,it will be worth my time if you can...
1.Research the land use act.
2.understand that even in New York,Paris a and London there is always going to be a jobless person.The CLOs of most Niger delta communities sell job slots allocated to their communities.No body owes you sh#t bro..even in America you have to work you behind off.
3.The 13% ,what have the region's leaders been able to achieve with it.

Maybe the north should protest for providing Nigeria with the most security personnel over the years .