THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME FOR PEACE BUILDING INITIATIVES IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study: The Niger Delta is the major hub of the Nigerian economy, but continues to linger in violence occasioned by multifarious social, political and environmental issues. Dudu and Odalonu (2016) confirmed that the Niger Delta which is located in the southern part of Nigeria, at the apex of the Gulf of Guinea on the west coast of Africa remain the treasure base of Nigeria. It comprises the largest oil producing states which makes up the country's nine federating states out of thirty-six, namely: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers.Interestingly, Omuta cited in Omokhoa (2015) disclosed that; Niger Delta produce the vast majority of the oil and gas wealth of the country and accounts for 95 per cent of the foreign exchange earnings, about 83 per cent of the Federal Government revenue. As such, Egwu (2019) describes Niger Delta as the 'honey' land of the Nigerian state, but reveals that oil and gas resources have been the major source of acrimony between the Nigerian state and the indigenous population of the region. Why? because the Nigerian state as well as the World enjoying the 'honey' left the 'bees' to 'sting' the indigenes. He added that the crude oil which was discovered in commercial quantities in the region at Otagbagi, very close to Oloibiri in present day Bayelsa state in 1956 and followed by Nigerian independence in 1960, gave high aspirations as well as expectations of development in the Niger Delta. Their expectations however, was cut short. As Moshood (2016) acknowledges:Consequently, amidst the interventions, Ojakorotu and Gilbert (2018) recalled that since 1990s, oil violence in the Niger Delta had constituted festering sore on the thumbs of the stakeholders: Nigerian state, the Multinational Oil Companies (MNOCs), and the Niger Delta communities due to pervasive underdevelopment occasioned by blatant environmental pollution, despoliation and political marginalization. Oil related agitations commenced in the region in an attempt to compel the Nigerian state and MNOCs to remedy the injustices meted to the Niger Deltans since the discovery of crude oil. However, the mono-cultural, rentier Nigerian state in collaboration with the MNOCs, have consistently and persistently unleashed a reign of violence on the Niger Delta in a failed attempt to militarily suppress and crush legitimate protests as well as to dissuade them from constituting a hindrance to the continuous flow of its rents from oil exploration, exploitation and appropriation. However, Ogege (2019) revealed that, a twist from military response to amnesty became an alternative response, when the Nigerian state realized that military response has done little to curtail the Niger Delta militants. In this consciousness, according Oluduro (2019): The late President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), Musa Yar’Adua, starts an Amnesty programme, granting unconditional pardon to the Niger Delta's militants. The pardon which was effective from June 25, 2009 to October 4, 2009 required the militants to surrender every weapon and ammunition in their possession as well as to publicly denounced militancy. Nevertheless, Dudu and Odalonu (2016) unfolded that the granting of amnesty to ex-militants initially reduced the spate of violence and invariably increased oil production in the region, as it helped to cut attacks on pipelines and restored oil production from 700,000 barrels per day between 2007 and mid-2009 to between 2.4 million and 2.6 million in late 2009. But the relative peace sustained at the onset of the Amnesty programme later dwindled. This study therefore,the presidential amnesty programme for peace building initiatives in the Niger Delta region

​​​​​​​Statement of the Problem

The Niger Delta violent conflict can be explained as a microcosm of the larger Nigerian state within the context of equity, access to oil resources and power by oil-rich communities, self-determination, ethnic autonomy, lack of political participation and democratic accountability, underdevelopment and widespread poverty(Rummel, 207). Traced to the colonial era, the struggle over the sale and regulation of the prices of palm oil pitted British traders and Niger Delta indigenous traders against each other. The struggle, which led to the death of many natives and almost wiped out an entire community, created the milieu for the Niger Delta subjugation that has lasted till now.

​​​​​​​Objective of the Study

This study examines the presidential amnesty programme for peace building initiatives in the Niger Delta region. The specific objective is as follows:

1. To identify the causes of militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria,

2. To discuss the components of the amnesty programme for the militants in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria,

3. To ascertain the extent to which the amnesty has served as a peace building mechanism in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria,

4. To highlight measures capable of promoting peace in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Research Questions

The following questions have been prepared for the study

1. What are the causes of militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria?

2. What are the components of the amnesty programme for the militants in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria? 

3. What is the extent to which the amnesty has served as a peace building mechanism in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria?

4. What are the measures capable of promoting peace in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria?

Research Hypothesis

The following hypothesis have been formulated for the study

H0: The extent to which the amnesty has served as a peace building mechanism in the Niger Delta region is low

HA: The extent to which the amnesty has served as a peace building mechanism in the Niger Delta region is high

​​​​​​​Significance of the Study

This study is significant to the Nigerian government as it will be exposed to the challenges the Niger Delta region is going through which leads to the issue of militancy fighting for the rights of people in the region.

The study will be of benefit to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

​​​​​​​Scope of the Study

This study will identify the causes of militancy in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study will also discuss the components of the amnesty programme for the militants in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. The study will further ascertain the extent to which the amnesty has served as a peace building mechanism in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Lastly, the study will highlight measures capable of promoting peace in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

​​​​​​​Limitation of the Study

Financial constraint

Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint

The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work

1.9 Definition of Terms

Amnesty: an official pardon for people who have been convicted of political offences

Peace building:  the development of constructive personal, group, and political relationships across ethnic, religious, class, national, and racial boundaries