The problem of the Niger Delta of Nigeria is well documented all over the world. oil companies explore and drill for oil not only in Nigeria but in Oil producing countries of the world. Many of these operations are conducted with little or no fracas except in Nigeria and currently war torn Iraq.
Why do we have this particular situation in Nigeria? let us take Shell as a reference point. Shell Petroleum, the world formost oil company operates in the North Sea, in the regions of Northern United Kingdom and Norway. In these areas its operations are conducted under the strictest environmental standards. This is little or no environmental degradation and the coastal areas are clean and free of pollution. The level of social responsibility of these oil companies in this part of the world is very high. Same situation will be found in the oil producing communities in the United States of America, Russia, Eastern Europe, South America and the Arab nations.
Why then do our people in the Niger Delta agitate and are full of contempt for the oil companies operating in their region? Why do they engage in kidnapping of oil workers and sabotage of oil installations? The truth is that amidst all these oil operations those who live in the Niger Delta are extremely poor. The land they live on are impaired by oil operations to the extent that their traditional agricultural and fishing life have been economically degraded. The result is that the poverty situation breeds militants who find it difficult to see the larger picture. To make the matter worse Niger Delta leaders who due to their privileged positions are able to get conracts, appointments and compensations from government and the oil companies and use these resources for their personal benefits instead of the general good of their people. All these breed discontentment amongst the ordinary people of the Niger Delta Region and generate hatred for the Nigeria Federation.
This article is not meant to apportion blame to government or the oil companies or the leaders of the oil communties or the militants but to advance solutions for the end of these agitations. The current fire fighting approach at all levels will not solve the problem. No amount of military threat, military action, mass arrest, detention, increase in oil derivation percentage can end these agitations except we devise proactive actions that are strategically tailored to end these problems permanently. Our goal should be to design a federal programme that will empower economically the ordinary people of the Niger Delta.
Aguments have been raised that we increase the derivation percentage to 25% from current 13%. These arguments are without doubt lacking in details to enable us determine the impact of that increase in social benefits to the people of the Niger Delta. It is wrong to just pick a figure and assume that figure will resolve the current problem. How do we know that the current 13% is not even adequate or the purposed 25% is on the low side.? The problem in the Niger Delta can be traced to the Management of funds eleased from the Federation account and the delivery channel of fund to the grass root of the region. Billions have so far been expended on the Niger Delta states. To what extent have these allocations empowered the ordinary people of these communities? Rather what we have are Niger Delta Public officers who are far richer than their communities. These leaders live in affluence whilst their people, the ordinary people of the Niger Delta Region groan in poverty.
These are some of the reasons for this militancy that is gradually sliding into terrorism. To a strategic thinker who draws fro the realities and scanning of the Niger Delta Region, coupled with the historical antecdents the solution is not just increasing the derivation percentage but to change the structure of funds expenditure in such a way that it will go directly to impact the ordinary people of the Region. in this regard I suggest the following strategic actions:
-The Niger Delta State Governments should henceforth be held accountable for the strict provision of social benefits and public infrastructures to their people. These could be done by a special Act of Parliament prescribing strict accountability of resources allocated to the Region. The provision of roads, schools, hospitals, employment generation and other social services should be the preoccupation of these States. Political parties should also be structured to appreciate the importance of peace in the Niger Delta to the Nigerian Federation.
-Apart from current taxes, a special tax to be called Niger Delta Social Security tax should be levied all oil or oil services company operating in the Niger Delta. The taxes are to be collected annually, under Federal control and be dedicated to the repair of all environmental damages that have occurred or may occur from future oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
– Efforts of Government and the oil companies in the area of social services to the oil communities should be publicized regularly and information to reach the grass root timely. To further strengthen the federal efforts in the Niger Delta, the president should appoint a Special Assistant on Niger Delta. Federal programmes who should not originate from any of the States of the Niger Delta so as to insulate such officer from the politics of that region. His main responsibilities will be to brief the President independently and truthfully from time to time on the state of affairs in the Niger Delta area and progress made on the implementation of the federal program, its successes or failures.
– Government and oil companies dealings with Niger Delta communities should be two way. On one hand with the leaders of the host communities and on the other with the grass roots directly. This is to ensure that no information or essential disclosures are suppressed by the leadership. The grass roots should always be aware of actions taken on their behalf.
Finally it should be borne in mind that a person gainfully employed, will have no time for unproductive militancy in Nigeria. A community that is empowered with a grass roots owning its own businesses and having thriving cooperatives structures will have no business with kidnapping, extortion, murder and terrorism. I believe what the Niger Delta people are looking for is not handouts but an enabling environment that aids them to own their own business or have gainful employment. The ordinary Niger Delta man definitely is not interested in luxury cars or brazen display of wealth but just the basic necessities of life. We as a nation can do this if we get the structure and implementation process right. There is nothing as having peace and harmony in our country. We must do everything to ensure that the crisis in the Niger Delta does not bring our country down.
Aderemi Ogunmefun
Lagos