President umaru yaradua meets for the first time with the leader of mend, henry okah, in abuja to diffuse tensions in the niger delta on 19 october. Violence and poverty in the oilproducing niger delta the federal governments 2009 amnesty programwhich saw some 26,000 militants, youth, and gang members surrender weapons in. Jun 24, 2009 yaradua niger delta amnesty proclamation pursuant to section 175 of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria. An appraisal ed various forms of incessant andor sporadic ethnoreligious conflicts or what the freedom house calls simmering tensions among the countrys about 350 ethnic groups, as well as between religious communities. There is no gainsaying that the coming on stream of the presidential amnesty programme greatly reduced the uncertainty and danger in doing business. Oil spill investigations in the niger delta amnesty international november 20 index. Pdf the federal governments amnesty programme in the. Unlike his predecessor, yaradua chose the dialogue option which culminated in the declaration of amnesty for suspected niger delta militants who were willing to. The challenges of transitioning from peace settlements to longterm peace. Amnesty, illegal bunkering, niger delta, nigeria, oil theft i. The findings presented in this report build on previous research that exposed systemic flaws in the oil spill investigation process, which was conducted by amnesty international and the port harcourtbased centre for education, human rights. The data analysis technique utilized in this study is content analysis of data. The federal governments amnesty programme in the niger.
Yaradua niger delta amnesty proclamation pursuant to section 175 of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria. Crisis in the niger delta 4 outlining a clearly defined strategy and mobilizing a base that cuts across ethnic and state boundaries. The amnesty deal is a desperate effort by the nigerian state to end the niger delta crisis, and thereby restore some dignity and pride to itself. Urhobo culture and the amnesty program in niger delta. Thus far, a major concern is that the amnesty program will fail because it was not.
In common with other parts of nigeria, this ethnic diversity has of. Negligence in the niger delta amnesty international canada. The presidential amnesty programme commenced on thursday, july 11, 2009 when a proclamation of amnesty for niger delta militant who had engaged in the armed struggle for a better deal in the nations oil gains. Criminal activity by local people, including sabotage, theft and illegal refining of oil, have become increasingly serious problems in the niger delta, and contribute to. Introduction the niger delta accounts for over 80% of nigerias oil production with over 600 oil fields, 5,284 oil wells, 10 oil and gas export terminals, 275 flow stations 10 gas plants, and massive liquefied natural gas and is. Shells false claims about oil spill response in the niger delta amnesty international is a global movement of more than 7 million people who campaign for a. Implementation of emergency measures unep recommended a number of emergency meas ures to address the fact that certain communities were exposed to grave health risks through contaminated drinking water. A nigerian amnesty program aimed at stopping militants from bombing pipelines in the countrys oilrich delta region is coming under fire for not seeking permanent solutions to the areas problems. The federal governments amnesty programme in the nigerdelta. The report reveals the human and environmental effects of decades of oil spills in the area. Government and the niger delta agitators in 2009 at the instance of the then nigerias leader, president umaru musa yaradua, who proclaimed unconditional amnesty for all niger delta people who had. May 08, 20 in 2009, the government of president umar yaradua granted amnesty to militants in the niger delta region who were waging an oil war with the government demanding the development of the region.
An amnesty deal by the nigerian government for militants in the niger delta aimed at reducing unrest in the oilrich region came into effect today. Delta expressing fears of possible domination by the socalled majority ethnic groups in an. The amnesty officially resulted in the demobilisation of 30,000 militants, paying them allowances and providing training for a smaller number. The nda says it is fighting for development of the niger delta. However, the niger delta now appears rather peaceful as there is relative peace in the oil rich region. Crisis in the niger delta 2 amnesty the one concrete action the federal government has taken is to introduce an amnesty for militants who turn in their weapons and commit to abandoning violence. Expectations and the administrative systems, niger delta david ogula apollos university, huntington beach, ca, usa. Pdf the armed conflict between militias and government forces in nigerias niger delta. Those hopes havent been realized, and the fragile peace is. Nigerian history is replete with agitation by people from the niger. Kingsley kuku marked the 3rd anniversary of the implementation of the presidential amnesty programme pap.
Thus far, a major concern is that the amnesty program will fail because it was not preceded by. Niger delta, amnesty program, ddr, conflict, criminology, social sciences, violence. A discussion paper introduction the niger delta is the most important oilproducing region in africa, with its oil providing 70 per cent of nigerias government revenue. Rather, it aims to provide examples of the kind of abuses and. As part of a larger project titled amnesty for peace in the niger delta region of nigeria indepth interviews with youths, leaders, community members, elders and relatives of exmilitants were carried out. A nigerian amnesty program aimed at stopping militants from bombing pipelines in the countrys oilrich delta region is coming under fire for not seeking. The region stands in a geostrategic location on the shores of the gulf.
First, although the niger delta desperately needs additional security, any military response must be careful and measured. A cohort of 20 exmilitants from the urhobo speaking tribe within the nigerdelta region of nigeria that were enrolled in. It found the contamination to be widespread and severe, and stated that people in the niger delta have been exposed to it for. Mar 20, 2018 an amnesty offered to militants in the niger delta in 2009 was intended to end fighting, oil theft and other disruption in the region. Ethnic and political unrest continued throughout the 1990s despite the return to democracy clarification needed and the election of the obasanjo. An amnesty offered to militants in the niger delta in 2009 was intended to end fighting, oil theft and other disruption in the region. August 31, 2015 pls let us know your school or camp when you get your payment so we can identify those that are yet to receive. Consequently, after the post amnesty period, the programme has brought some economic benefits to the nation. This paper discusses the interface between violence in the niger delta, global energy security and amnesty granted to armed groups by the nigerian government. Niger delta armed conflict and the ddr process of the nigerian amnesty programme daniel e agbiboa university of oxford, uk abstract my central aim in this paper is to evaluate the outcomes of the amnesty programme established in mid2009 by the nigerian government as a way of resolving the groundswell of violence in the oilrich niger delta region.
The current conflict in the niger delta first arose in the early 1990s over tensions between foreign oil corporations and a number of the niger deltas minority ethnic groups who feel they are being exploited, particularly the ogoni and the ijaw. In 2009, the nigerian government under late president umaru musa yaradua established the niger delta amnesty program ndap, which is nigerias version of ddr, in an effort to mitigate the violence that had racked the region since the early 2000s. Although shell has made some improvements in its process since 2011, findings related to the pre2011 process are. This is as a result of the daily increase in oil production aghedo, 20. A government amnesty for militants expires on 4 october. Whereas the government of the federal republic of nigeria acknowledges. This study therefore investigates the nature and character of the amnesty deal. An appraisal proclamation, one can adduce at least four possible justifications for the amnesty. The post amnesty programme and sustainable peacebuilding 6 background and context nigerias niger delta, measuring about 70,000 km.
There is no gainsaying that the coming on stream of the presidential amnesty programme greatly reduced the uncertainty and danger in doing business in the niger delta, which hosts the oil and gas. In july, people, including two niger nationals and 11 nigerian nationals, were killed by niger soldiers in a village near abada on the nigeria border, when they were mistaken for members of an armed group. Data gathered by amnesty international s decoders reveals the extraordinary scale of oil pollution in the niger delta, and the high frequency of spills. The post amnesty programme and sustainable peacebuilding 6 background and context nigeria s niger delta, measuring about 70,000 km. We reach almost every country in the world and have more than 2 million members and supporters who drive forward our fight. Negligence in the niger delta amnesty international. The terms of the amnesty included the willingness and readiness of the agitators to surrender their arms on or before october 4, 2009, unconditionally renounce militancy and. The group accuses the government of exploiting the. Nigeria begins amnesty for niger delta militants world.
Pollution in the niger delta affects water people depend on for fishing, drinking, cooking and bathing. Short of a policing or military or paramilitary defence of the pipelines, it is my judgment that the protection requirement within section 115b involves a general shielding and caring obligation. Since the 1960s, transnational oil corporations operating in the niger delta have. But amnesty internationals research over many years has demonstrated that shells nigeria operations. Unlike his predecessor, yaradua chose the dialogue option which culminated in the declaration of amnesty for suspected niger delta militants who were willing to surrender their arms. The author notes the impact of the violence on energy infrastructure and brings to the fore how the violence endangers energy security. Amnesty, empowerment, nigerdelta, peacebuilding, re. Since 2014 eni has reported 820 spills in the niger delta, with 26,286 barrels or 4. Understanding the armed groups of the niger delta final. In granting unconditional amnesty for the agitators, the late yaradua opened a window for a period of 60. Remembering the 2009 amnesty for niger delta militants youtube. While nigerian officials opt to buy shortterm ceasefires, such as the 2009 amnesty process, other governments spend too little in money and manpower to grow local civil. In 2009, the government of president umar yaradua granted amnesty to militants in the niger delta region who were waging an oil war with the government demanding the development of the region. The amnesty period will terminate in early october, unless it is extended.
Poor communitycompany relations in the niger delta hadrawn ve attention to the practice of corporate social responsibility csr in the region. Executive summary since shell first discovered oil near the village of oloibiri in 1956, the niger delta has become africas most valuable oilproducing region and the anglodutch giant has earned billions of dollars. This study, therefore, is important because it provides a critical perspective that anticipates and explains emerging issues with the niger delta amnesty program, which have implications for ddr adaptation and implementation all over the world. Yaradua niger delta amnesty proclamation sahara reporters. In an attempt to solve the niger delta crises, the federal government recently introduced the policy of amnesty to militants as the solution to the niger delta crises. Shells false claims about oil spill response in the niger delta amnesty international is a global movement of more than 7 million people who campaign for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all. Afr 440202004 survey of violations and abuses of human rights in the niger delta, either by the state or by nonstate actors such as tncs. Tarila marclint ebiede instability in nigeria s niger delta.
Transcription can be manual, or the researchers can leverage the power of. In october 2009, the nigerian government signed a ceasefire and amnesty agreement to end a decadelong conflict with local militias in the niger delta agitating for greater political participation. The study seeks to capture the impact and challenges of the six year old amnesty programme in postconflict niger delta region. The nigerian military is a traditionally trained force that struggles with counterinsurgency operations. This brief examines the niger delta amnesty declared in june 2009, from the perspective of its achievements, limitations and risks. Aug 06, 2009 an amnesty deal by the nigerian government for militants in the niger delta aimed at reducing unrest in the oilrich region came into effect today. Still others are accusing the deltas political elites, including former president goodluck jonathan, of supporting nda to discredit the buhari regime. It is the first independent study of the impacts of oil pollution in the niger delta. Conflict in the niger delta more than a local affair summary neither nigeria nor foreign donors are investing enough to end violent conflict in the niger delta. In other words, the amnesty program is a developmental initiative that was created and aimed at ameliorating the root causes of the niger delta crisis.
Pdf the federal governments amnesty programme in the niger. Amnesty international has asked shell to provide information regarding any maintenance of pipelines and infrastructure in bodo, but shell did not respond on this point. There are some incipient efforts to organize nonviolent direct action in the coming months if no genuine peace process emerges at the end of the amnesty period. Nigeria begins amnesty for niger delta militants world news. On june 25, 20, in abuja nigeria, the federal government of nigeria niger delta amnesty programme under the office of the special adviser to the president on niger delta osapnd headed by hon.
925 602 1101 1256 794 1103 928 10 520 192 1439 676 467 1077 489 1177 196 1117 503 173 522 217 915 598 1221 1516 1341 78 333 1083 763 962 433 696 808 292 327 636 1360 961 580 1369 1025 364 1298