Group Raises Fresh Alarm On Niger Delta Crisis

Group Raises Fresh Alarm On Niger Delta Crisis

CIVIL society group, Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) says the geographical spread of criminal activity from the Niger Delta, Nigeria's main oil and gas region, is a symptom of more persistent problems that have not been addressed over the past four years.

Co-ordinator of the group, Gaia Sprocati, in a statement yesterday said the unprecedented kidnapping in Lagos (March 29th) ended days later with the hostage rescued and the kidnappers killed in a shoot out.

''Others have not been so fortunate with support vessels in the oil industry suffering several piracy attacks, resulting in the captain of one ship being killed and many more injuries. Two British hostages have now been held for over six months.

''Equally disturbing has been the continuing spread in kidnapping to include Nigerian individuals with only the most tenuous link to government, the oil industry or even construction [in this period a prominent author, a doctor, and church leaders have been kidnapped in Rivers State]'', the group said.

According to them, ''much of the action taken by both government and company actors in this period has been contradictory and generally favoured short term 'band aids' that often weaken the prospects for credible longer term responses. At the time of writing the Federal Government has made a fresh amnesty offer to militias, which was swiftly rejected by umbrella group MEND on the grounds that it was a piecemeal response at a time when the parties have little confidence in each other''.

Continuing, they said, ''in March the Bayelsa State Governor, Timipre Sylva, was reported as receiving threats for his plan to discontinue 100m Naira ($750,000) monthly payments to militia groups who had 'suspended activities'. The State Government was quick to deny that it had been making payments in the first place but the apparent gaffe lent further credence to local accounts of many months of back-door payments from numerous quarters to avoid further disruption of oil production''.

The SDN is, however, of the view that lack of progress on comprehensive plans which could address the inter-locking issues of conflict, injustice, and criminality suggest there is still limited political will to bring about substantial change in the Niger Delta.

''The latest plan for the region – a Niger Delta Technical Committee report – languishes in yet another committee tasked to draft a 'white paper'. A newly created Ministry for the Niger Delta seems to lack both resources and a clear sense of direction'', the group said.

They are therefore, urging the peoples of the oil and gas region to continue pressing for more substantial action for the stabilisation and rehabilitation of the region, pointing out that a number of reports over the last six years – including the latest from the Technical Committee contain useful elements that could bring a bout substantial change. Implementation has been limited or badly politicised.

''Present trends are disturbing, including credible accounts of some government services and security forces becoming addicted to the revenues – both legitimate and illegal - that are associated with their continued presence in the Niger Delta region'', they added.

ENDS

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