A defence and security expert, Nnamdi Chife, has called on the Nigeria government to address some of the issues affecting the Niger-Delta region of the country especially in the area of environmental degradation among others in the region.
According to Chife, the Niger Delta region of Nigeria has faced insecurity and instability due to a variety of factors including illegal bunkering and oil theft by criminal networks, often involving corrupt officials and militants, unemployment, poverty, and perceived marginalization among youths, leading to protests, vandalism, and violence.
Other factors causing problem within the region as explained by the experts are armed groups, like the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), demand resource control and environmental justice, maritime crimes, including kidnapping and oil theft, in the Gulf of Guinea as well as conflicts between ethnic groups and political rivalries exacerbate insecurity.
To address some of these issues, Chife said the federal government of Nigeria must diversify the economy by investing in non-oil sectors to reduce dependence on oil revenue.
“The government must strengthen institutions, tackle corruption, and ensure transparency in resource management,” he said.
“They should provide education, skills training, and job opportunities to the youths to address unemployment and marginalization as well as clean up oil spills, restore ecosystems, and address environmental degradation.
“They should also engage in dialogue with militant groups, address grievances, and offer alternatives to violence as well as professionalize security forces, improve intelligence, and address human rights abuses.
“There should be collaboration with neighboring countries and global partners to combat piracy and oil theft while also making sure they foster trust and partnerships with local communities to address conflicts and promote peace.”
Speaking further, Chife said addressing insecurity in the Niger Delta requires a comprehensive approach that tackles economic, political, and social issues while promoting sustainable development and environmental justice.
He added that the Niger Delta crisis in Nigeria is a complex issue with multiple factors contributing to its evolution.
Chife said: “The British colonial era’s exploitation and neglect of the region’s resources and people, likewise decades of oil spills, pollution, and ecosystem destruction by oil companies, affecting livelihoods and health.
“There also has been the issue of perceived unfair distribution of oil revenues, with the federal government controlling most resources and also exclusion from political power and decision-making processes, despite the region’s significant oil wealth.
“We also have issues of lack of investment in infrastructure, education, and job opportunities, leading to widespread poverty as well as historical conflicts between ethnic groups and rivalries over resources and territory.”
He said these factors among others have cumulatively contributed to the Niger Delta crisis, which has manifested in various forms, including militancy, oil theft, and youth restiveness. Addressing these underlying issues is crucial to resolving the crisis and achieving lasting peace in the region.
In his conclusion, Chife said the oil theft in the Niger Delta has a significant impact on Nigeria’s economy, resulting in reduced government revenue, increase in unemployment and environmental degradation.
