As part of efforts to
stop the lingering crisis in the Niger Dekta region, President Muhammadu
Buhari met leaders and traditional rulers from the region on Tuesday,
November 1.
The meeting was held to discuss the issue of militancy and security in
the region which has led to a sharp decline in oil production and
affected Nigeria’s earnings.
A 16-point demand was presented to Buhari by the people of the Niger
Delta, under the aegis of Pan-Niger Delta Forum.
Below are the 16 demands the Niger Delta people want for peace to be
restored in the oil-rich region.
1. Inclusive
participation in oil industry and ownership of oil blocs
The people are demanding that the federal government include the region
in the sharing and ownership of the oil blocs in the country. They want
policies and actions that will address the lack of participation, as
well as the imbalance in the ownership of oil and gas assets to be
affirmed.
2 The presidential amnesty programme
The oil-rich region is asking for a review of the programme to
reappraise its core mandate to provide a robust exit strategy. The
people want the government to make provisions for jobs for the
ex-militants after the programme. This will effectively integrate them
and wean them off dependency on stipends so that their new-found skills
would be of benefit to themselves and the larger community.
3. Law and Justice
The Niger Delta people want the federal government to address a number
of pending law and justice issues regarding some aggrieved groups and
individuals.
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4. Relocation of the administrative and operational headquarters of the
IOCs
They want the headquarters of major International Oil Companies (IOCs)
to be moved to the Niger Delta region as most are located outside the
region. According to them, this deprives the people of all the
developmental and associated benefits that would have accrued to the
region from their presence. Moving the headquarters to the Niger Delta
region would create a mutually beneficial relationship with the host
communities.
5. The effect of increased military presence in the Niger Delta
The people are asking the government to halt the escalation of tension
in the region which is caused by the increase in military presence. They
listed the effects of the increased military presence in the region to
include invasion of communities, displacement of persons, harassment and
other forms of human rights abuses.
6. Plight of internally
displaced persons
The oil-rich region wants the relevant government agencies to take
urgent measures in meeting the immediate needs of those displaced by the
upsurge of insecurity in the region.
7. The Ogoni clean-up and environmental remediation
The people of Niger Delta are demanding that the government speed up the
clean-up exercise and also enforce the zero gas flare deadline. The
government has been asked to urgently tackle the devastating effects of
coastal erosion and lack of an effective shoreline protection for the
coastal communities. They also asked that the federal government
commission a region-wide credible assessment of the impact of crude oil
pollution on the environment in the region and undertake to enforce
environmental laws.
6. Plight of internally
displaced persons
The oil-rich region wants the relevant government agencies to take
urgent measures in meeting the immediate needs of those displaced by the
upsurge of insecurity in the region.
7. The Ogoni clean-up and environmental remediation
The people of Niger Delta are demanding that the government speed up the
clean-up exercise and also enforce the zero gas flare deadline. The
government has been asked to urgently tackle the devastating effects of
coastal erosion and lack of an effective shoreline protection for the
coastal communities. They also asked that the federal government
commission a region-wide credible assessment of the impact of crude oil
pollution on the environment in the region and undertake to enforce
environmental laws.
13. Restructuring and
funding of the NDDC
The communities want to have a say in what projects come to them and
also want full implementation of the funding provisions of the NDDC Act.
14. Strengthening the Niger Delta Ministry
The people are asking for the ministry to be adequately funded and
strengthened to fulfill the purpose for which it was created.
15. The Bakassi question
The region wants the government to look into a comprehensive
resettlement plan for Bakassi indigenes who have been displaced. The
plan should include development for the host communities and displaced
population to reduce the risk of making them into stateless persons.
16. Fiscal federalism
The Niger Delta people expressed their support for the call for true
federalism. They called on the federal government to treat the matter
speedily.
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