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. Pdf the federal governments amnesty programme in the niger. An appraisal proclamation, one can adduce at least four possible justifications for the amnesty. Nigerian history is replete with agitation by people from the niger. 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. Thus far, a major concern is that the amnesty program will fail because it was not preceded by. This is as a result of the daily increase in oil production aghedo, 20. Jun 24, 2009 yaradua niger delta amnesty proclamation pursuant to section 175 of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria. It is the first independent study of the impacts of oil pollution in the niger delta.
First, although the niger delta desperately needs additional security, any military response must be careful and measured. Poor communitycompany relations in the niger delta hadrawn ve attention to the practice of corporate social responsibility csr in the region. 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. Amnesty, illegal bunkering, niger delta, nigeria, oil theft i. Negligence in the niger delta amnesty international. 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. 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 federal governments amnesty programme in the niger. Tarila marclint ebiede instability in nigeria s niger delta. The report reveals the human and environmental effects of decades of oil spills in the area. Data gathered by amnesty internationals decoders reveals the extraordinary scale of oil pollution in the niger delta, and the high frequency of spills. Since the 1960s, transnational oil corporations operating in the niger delta have. 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.
Pollution in the niger delta affects water people depend on for fishing, drinking, cooking and bathing. 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. Pdf the armed conflict between militias and government forces in nigerias niger delta. 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. A nigerian amnesty program aimed at stopping militants from bombing pipelines in the countrys oilrich delta region is coming under fire for not seeking. In common with other parts of nigeria, this ethnic diversity has of.
Niger delta armed conflict and the ddr process of the. Yaradua niger delta amnesty proclamation pursuant to section 175 of the constitution of the federal republic of nigeria. Consequently, after the post amnesty period, the programme has brought some economic benefits to the nation. Nigeria begins amnesty for niger delta militants world. 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. Transcription can be manual, or the researchers can leverage the power of. 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.
The niger delta is home to about 140 different ethnic groups in the nine states included in a broader definition of the 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. 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. This paper discusses the interface between violence in the niger delta, global energy security and amnesty granted to armed groups by the nigerian government. The nigerian military is a traditionally trained force that struggles with counterinsurgency operations. 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. Urhobo culture and the amnesty program in niger delta.
Nigeria begins amnesty for niger delta militants world news. Report on nd master final to media amnesty international canada. 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 post amnesty programme and sustainable peacebuilding 6 background and context nigerias niger delta, measuring about 70,000 km. 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. Whereas the government of the federal republic of nigeria acknowledges. Niger delta, amnesty program, ddr, conflict, criminology, social sciences, violence. 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. Tarila marclint ebiede instability in nigerias niger delta. Still others are accusing the deltas political elites, including former president goodluck jonathan, of supporting nda to discredit the buhari regime. The federal governments amnesty programme in the nigerdelta.
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. The author notes the impact of the violence on energy infrastructure and brings to the fore how the violence endangers energy security. Understanding the armed groups of the niger delta final. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Amnesty, empowerment, nigerdelta, peacebuilding, re. 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. It found the contamination to be widespread and severe, and stated that people in the niger delta have been exposed to it for.
Remembering the 2009 amnesty for niger delta militants youtube. An amnesty offered to militants in the niger delta in 2009 was intended to end fighting, oil theft and other disruption in the region. Those hopes havent been realized, and the fragile peace is. 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. 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.
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. Oil spill investigations in the niger delta amnesty international november 20 index. The challenges of transitioning from peace settlements to longterm peace. Expectations and the administrative systems, niger delta david ogula apollos university, huntington beach, ca, usa. 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. Yaradua niger delta amnesty proclamation sahara reporters. 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. There is no gainsaying that the coming on stream of the presidential amnesty programme greatly reduced the uncertainty and danger in doing business. Since 2014 eni has reported 820 spills in the niger delta, with 26,286 barrels or 4. This study therefore investigates the nature and character of the amnesty deal. Pdf the federal governments amnesty programme in the. 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. Crisis in the niger delta 4 outlining a clearly defined strategy and mobilizing a base that cuts across ethnic and state boundaries. But amnesty internationals research over many years has demonstrated that shells nigeria operations.
The post amnesty programme and sustainable peacebuilding 6 background and context nigeria s niger delta, measuring about 70,000 km. Kingsley kuku marked the 3rd anniversary of the implementation of the presidential amnesty programme pap. The region stands in a geostrategic location on the shores of the gulf. 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. The nda says it is fighting for development of the niger delta. 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. This brief examines the niger delta amnesty declared in june 2009, from the perspective of its achievements, limitations and risks. 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. The group accuses the government of exploiting the. The amnesty period will terminate in early october, unless it is extended. 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. Ethnic and political unrest continued throughout the 1990s despite the return to democracy clarification needed and the election of the obasanjo. 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.
Rather, it aims to provide examples of the kind of abuses and. 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. A cohort of 20 exmilitants from the urhobo speaking tribe within the nigerdelta region of nigeria that were enrolled in the amnesty program was used for this study. The study seeks to capture the impact and challenges of the six year old amnesty programme in postconflict niger delta region. 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.
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. 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. 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. The data analysis technique utilized in this study is content analysis of data. Negligence in the niger delta amnesty international canada. A cohort of 20 exmilitants from the urhobo speaking tribe within the nigerdelta region of nigeria that were enrolled in. 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. Thus far, a major concern is that the amnesty program will fail because it was not.
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. We reach almost every country in the world and have more than 2 million members and supporters who drive forward our fight. In granting unconditional amnesty for the agitators, the late yaradua opened a window for a period of 60. Data gathered by amnesty international s decoders reveals the extraordinary scale of oil pollution in the niger delta, and the high frequency of spills. A government amnesty for militants expires on 4 october. 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.
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