Change Nigeria Project

INTRODUCTION:

If Nigeria gives all the oil funds to the Niger Delta today, Nigeria can expect to have even far more problems because of the complex and deep-rooted caused of the problems there. There are apparently, strong dislike and mistrust between and among the several ethnic groups and communities resulting from competition for living, farming and fishing rights in the past to sharing dividends and royalties from the oil and gas royalties.  In fact, the Niger Delta crisis is a microcosm of the general problems facing the nation and they are identifiable in different parts of Nigeria. Whether, it is the Jukun and the Fulani crisis in North Central, the Modakeke crisis in the South West, the Aguleri and Umuleri crisis in the South-East or the frequent ethnic crashes in other regions, the fundamental and underlying issues rest on the fact that a group of citizens claims rights which they believe that others do not have within their communities. While oil drilling, environmental degradation, and compensation for the indigenous population of Niger Delta form the bone of contention, the problem is very complex and pre-dates the colonial era.  The fundamental factors that contribute to the crisis needed to be identified and are presented as follows:

 

1.         Delta State Issue:

Take for example, the relationship of the Ijaws and the Itsekiris in Delta State.  The Ijaws were translocated to an Itsekiri environment about 200 years before colonial period by an expansive Benin Empire for the purposes of farming.  Hence, the Itsekiris regarded the Delta Ijaws as “settlers” that should not have rights to owning land or par-take in the leadership of the community.  The Delta Ijaws had been resisting being labeled as “second class citizens” and the problem exacerbated when the colonialists gave title of (all) Itsekiri land (including area inhabited by the Ijaws) to the Olu of Itsekiri.

2.         Discontent in parts of Niger Delta after Nigeria’s Independence:

The Ijaws had always felt neglected and cheated in the Federation.  By June 1966, a group led by Isaac Adaka Boro had declared the Independent Republic of the Niger Delta.  He was tried and convicted for treason and was sentenced to death.  He was later released by the former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon to fight on the Federal side during the Nigerian Civil War.  Although, General Gowon created States, the fundamental issues of discontent were not fully addressed.

3.         The Indigenization Decree:

The indigenization decree which was promulgated by General Gowon after the war appeared to have resolved one issue while creating another problem for Nigeria.  While its major objectives were to increase the number of indigenous population in hierarchy of expatriate companies, it became apparent that communities interpreted it to highlight the difference between indigenous citizens and “settler” citizens.  Several group related skirmishes and crisis that occur in Nigeria today are mostly rooted on the ‘indigene’ versus ‘settler’ citizens.

4.         Excesses of Multi-National Oil Corporations:

The Multi-National Oil Corporations operated in a manner disrespected the Niger Delta environment and its citizens. The reckless spilling of crude oil on the sea and land of the Niger Delta killed fish and other aquatic animals and rendered soil infertile for farming purposes. Also, the companies’ employee body included few citizens from the Niger Delta which the people viewed as unfair practices.

5.         Overzealous Youth Demand for Oil Royalty and Employment:

The youth believed that the oil was their property and that royalty must be paid to them.

Hence, they adopt confrontational methods of achieving their objectives which leaders to disruption of drilling and peace in the area.

6.         Federal Government Mishandling of the Issues:

One striking observation is that the Federal Government had always tried to address the Niger Delta issues only in response to agitations and militancy by either increasing the rate of royalty to the oil producing states or establishing a program that benefits the Niger Delta. Hence, it becomes a pattern that has been fully recognized by the militants that prolonged agitation and increased militant would always be rewarded.  It was through continuous agitation that the royalty that is given to the oil producing states was increased to 13%.The establishment of the Niger Delta Development Corporation was done after prolonged agitation. Recently, the relentless militancy forced the Federal Government to create the Ministry of the Niger Delta.  With the mindset that more protests and increased militancy would produce more concessions from the government, it becomes difficult to stop the trend without law enforcement measures. On the other hand, this issue has the potential of creating greater problems to the Federal Government if other neglected communities would become envious of the special attention paid to the Niger Delta and resort to militancy in order to squeeze out similar concessions from the Federal Government.

7.         Open Corruption:

State Governments and public servants in the Niger Delta and elsewhere have been living higher than their salaries.  The Nigerian citizens are aware that the flamboyant lifestyles of those in government and their friends are maintained by ill-acquired wealth. There have been increased cases “kidnapping for ransom” of wealthy individuals and their relatives.  This further creates anxiety and distorts peace in the environment.

Environmental Degradation:

The sea and rivers in the Niger Delta were polluted with spilled crude oil which killed the fish and other aquatic animals thereby destroying the fisheries industries in which the Niger Delta communities depended. Also, the fish breeding habit is also destroyed

8.         Government Failures:

1.         Failure to control environmental destruction by the Multi-National Corporation. The regulation and protection of the environment fall into the public domain and the Federal Government should have reneged on this responsibility by allowing international profit-making companies destroy the environment.

2.         State Governments’ in the Niger Delta have neglected and over-looked  the swampy areas in their development issues.  Governments must show equity when dealing with development and infra-structural issues.

3.         The impression by the Federal Government that it can do everything for all people.  The Nigerian people should be given a part to play in their lives. While there are things that the Government should do for the people, there are also things that the people can do for themselves, their communities and the nation.

4.         Education that teaches agitation and demand for rights.  Educational curriculum should be developed to teach students the sense of duty to self, environment and the nation.

IMPLICATIONS:

The implications from the above neglects and attitudes are:

1.         Frustration of the population in the Nigeria

2.         Because of the profound neglect, militancy of the youth then appeared to  be justified that many Nigerians started sympathizing with the cause of the  militants.

3.         Leaders and Politicians unable to risk condemning the militancy. The  militants were unquestionably viewed as controlling the communities.

4.         Silence of leaders was recognized by the militants as ‘Approval of their Conducts’. Even community leaders that felt that militancy should not be the best option could not say so because of an apparent legal security vacuum in the area.

5.         State and local authorities acquiesced to militants: Most of the state authorities and politicians, in words and deeds appeared to support the  militants and in some cases, are said to have employed them as vigilantes.

6.         So, the killing of policemen on duty criminals in the disguise as militants appeared ‘Acceptable’.  Politicians and community leaders were not always seen condemning this hideous crime.  On the other hand, both State and Federal Government, by their actions appear to be negotiating with criminals and are said to have paid ransom for the release of officials kidnapped by the militants.

RESULT OF ACTIONS:

1.         Multi-National Corporations:  These corporations become targets of bombing and kidnapping by the militants. In return, the corporations decide not to invest on long-term basis.  They reduce their level of investments and targets only ‘very soft’ products.

2.         Militants:  The militants were emboldened to the point that they could even attack the Nigerian military.

ECONOMIC LOSSES:

-Loss of fishing industries

-Unemployment of Fishermen

- Losses due to low yield of farm crop

-This discourages future farmers and Fishermen.

- Loss of oil revenue

- Losses for increased security

- Losses from increased cost of drilling

SOLUTIONS:  THREE KINDS OF SOLUTIONS PROFFERED:

1.         Primary:

2.         Secondary

3.         Tertiary

Primary Solutions

1.         Stop the current criminal activities.  The government must retain and secure the territory that has been claimed by the criminal militants

2.         Government must make sure that law and order returns

3.         Government must not negotiate with criminals that kill Nigerian Policemen and Soldiers.

4.         Government must not negotiate with militants from the position of weakness.

5.         Government must make it know to all Nigerians that people should use constitutional provisions and avenues to protest.

6.         Over-Emphasis on the development of the Niger Delta as a reward from the conflict may send the wrong message to other distressed groups and copy cats

Secondary Solutions:

1.         Rehabilitation of those affected by the Niger Delta crisis.

2.         Make rules that ensures the State Governments serve those that voted for them.

3.         Ensure that corrupt practices of individuals using Government funds for personal uses are penalized and publicized.

4.         Embezzlement of public funds should be punishable offense.

5.         If States do not their job, the Federal Government is blamed, so the Federal Government should enact rules of

(1) Expectations and

(2) Accountability for the funds received from the Federal Government.

He Who Pays The Piper Dictates The Tune.

Tertiary Solutions:

There the need to restructure the educational system in order to graduate a productive workforce.

There is the need to find ways to minimize staff strikes and work-to-rule culture in universities through policy changes.

The Federal Government must take active role in environmental protection/enforcement.

There is the need to re-train the unemployed graduates to become productive workers.

There is the need to re-train the police to be responsive to new and violent crimes through new crime fighting methods which are needed in heavily populated and metropolitan areas.  Creating of community policing in addition to the existing Police Force will help to alleviate some of the notable crimes taking place recently. A short-cut of achieving this without a constitutional amendment will be for the Nigeria Police to award charters to communities to establish a policing service.

GENERAL BUT IMPORTANT AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT:

1.         Decrease Pollution of the waters that killed fish and destroyed the breeding habitat of aquatic animals. Clean polluted waters and farmland Re-introduced lost fish in the waters to rehabilitate and enrich the waters with fish. This will help to restore the fishing industry and reduce unemployment.

2.         Find ways of solving the indigene/settler issues because most community- based violence witnessed in Nigeria have been related to some people believing that they have a right that other Nigerians do not.

3.         Address Security issues: Cell phone communication to fight crime. Owners of all cell phones must be registered with verifiable addresses.

4.         Address productivity issues: Employment and retention of should be based on productivity.  Redundancy should be stamped out

5.         Create Productive Employment and provide conducive environment for productive business.

6.         Reduce the gap between the poor and the rich, especially, with regards to ill-acquired wealth.  The wider the gap between the rich and the poor, the greater the resentment and friction between the two groups.

7.         Address the Anger of the Youth:

a.         No Job

b.         Neglected social issues

i.          No Electricity

ii.         No Drinking Water

iii.        No HealthCare

iv.        No Food

c.         State Governments’ efforts are too little. State must be made to be responsible and Accountable for State Development

State of the Nation Committee:

Robert Ngwu, Chair

Hadjia Fatima Wali

STATE OF THE UNION: THE NIGER DELTA PROBLEMS

PRESENTED AT AN EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETING HELD AT CAMBRIDGE MASSACHEUSETTS

JUNE 5, 2009

BY PROFESSOR DENNIS O. BALOGU