Tag Archives: Militancy

Niger Delta Militancy: Agitations or Irrational Irritability? – By Joseph Odok

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There is a popular story of a man that caught his wife doing some wrong. He got so infuriated and began beating up the wife. Bystanders applauded the man as he continued the beatings, yes with the support of all. After the beatings, he got the wife naked to her utmost embarrassment, tied her hands and feet, left her on the heat of the sun from morning to evening without food.

 

When the villagers were returning from their work,  they saw the wife naked and panting. Surely this did not go on well with them, they got infuriated with the man and saw the man a demon. They rendered insult on the man and ostracized the man from the village. Yes the wife was wrong but the man got irrationally irritated and excessive in his actions.

This story can be likened to the actions of some Niger Delta militants, sure there are instances of neglect of the Niger Delta Region by previous Nigerian Governments. Yes revenue release by federal government to the region has not brought any meaningful developmental change. Yes some Niger Delta stakeholders have corruptly enriched themselves from what was supposed to be our common patrimony, sometimes our brothers prove themselves worst enemies. Yes the goose that laid the golden eggs that feeds the nation is grossly underdeveloped. Yes from Isaac Boro to Ken Saro-Wiwa to the full blown Militancy today, there have been agitations that can be said to be legitimate demand for social justice. Yes the government of Nigeria has sometimes acted  in bad light by collaborating with trans-national oil companies to oppress the Niger Delta people. Yes agitation is one option of civil disobedience to address some serious issues of social injustices and inequality in distribution of wealth. Yes nationally, the international and local community applauds the agitation of the likes of Isaac Boro and Ken Saro-Wiwa but in recent times, the agitations of some Militants in the Niger Delta Region is recently condemned as Irrational Irritability.

Some group of persons see such agitators/militants as criminal opportunist. More so because agitations by most militants has led to economic imbalance with the justification of violence as a quick way to wealth.

A gang of criminals have taken over advocacy, their stock in trade is pipeline vandalism, oil bunkering, kidnapping and some other humanitarian abuses. These gang of agitators are stupendously rich and are recruiting so many loyalist making dialogue with government difficult.

 

The wealth gained from the lucrative business of Militancy is used to buy properties outside Nigeria. Some are rumoured to own private universities, jets, and huge account deposits in foreign banks. Militancy is defining itself as a form of criminality that pays more than civility.
The environmental effects of pipe line vandalism has polluted our lands, farming is no more possible, what way Nigeria?

The tasks before the Niger Delta Development Commission chaired by Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba is enormous. Poverty makes people Irrational and an aggrieved person is a destroyer. Civility is increasingly seen as foolery and cowardice, federal government is wrongly perceived as funding only the violent and neglecting the larger law abiding citizens of Niger Delta. There are increasing groups of agitators with the vision of satisfying their pockets. Peace, security and development have eluded the land

Which way Niger Delta? Peace comes with Justice, restorative justice and not selective Justice is the sure way to the solution of the Niger Delta Question.

Joseph Odok

FG Denies Budgeting N29bn To Fight Militancy in 2017

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The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, has denied report in a national daily to the effect that there is provision of N29 billion in the 2017 budget to fight militancy in the Niger Delta.

Mr. James Akpandem, Media Aide to the Minister said, the story, which quotes a statement reportedly issued Saturday night and signed by a member of the Central Working Committee of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Alfred Mulade, gave the impression that the Federal Government has earmarked the sum of N29 billion in the 2017 budget, specifically to fight militancy in the Niger Delta. The story is erroneous.

He said the relevant section of Dr Mulade’s purported statement did not even indicate that the speculated provision was contained in the 2017 Budget. Instead, it stated: “To make matters worse, the government is reported to have earmarked a whooping N29 billion of oil revenue to fight militancy in the Niger Delta region.”

“It must be clearly stated that there is no such provision in the 2017 Budget Proposals presented by the President, so we have absolutely no idea where this story is coming from.

“Indeed, the President has consistently and categorically stated that the focus of his Administration in 2017 will be to ‘continue to pursue peace initiatives in the Niger Delta’ through dialogue and engagement.

” It is for this reason that, amongst other projects earmarked for the Niger Delta, the sum of N65 billion has been provided in the 2017 Budget proposals for the re-integration of transformed ex-militants under the Presidential Amnesty Programme,” he stated.

Finally, Jonathan Speaks On Niger Delta Militancy

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday counselled aggrieved Niger Delta youths to embrace peace, saying it was the only means to usher in the needed development in the region.
Jonathan spoke when he visited the troubled Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, the hotbed of renewed militants’ activities in the Niger Delta.
The ex-President, whose visit was greeted with jubilation and excitement, also assured Nigerians that the problems facing the country, especially the dwindling economy, would soon be a thing of the past.
Jonathan was in Oporoza the traditional headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom for the official presentation of the staff of office to the Pere of Gbaramatu, His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II.
The immediate past President appealed to all stakeholders in the region to embrace peace, noting that there could never be development in an atmosphere of crisis. Jonathan said, “At this period, there are challenges in the country; there are challenges in the Niger Delta; there are challenges in the kingdom, but all these are temporary.
Surely, the society will get over it. I believe Nigeria is still a great country and will continue to move on. The kingdom will succeed, the Niger Delta will succeed and Nigeria will succeed.
“The governor has given his charge, I don’t want to add more, but I always say there cannot be development without peace and the duty of every traditional ruler is to ensure that there is peace in his kingdom and you should be able to mobilise your sons and daughters for the social and economic development of the people and especially for Gbaramatu kingdom, where a lot of oil industry activities are going on, where you have people from all over the world coming to do one thing or the other.”
Also, the state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, appealed for peace, lamenting that the continued destruction of pipelines had affected revenue generation in the country.
The governor, while presenting the staff of office to the 26th Gbaramatu monarch, said “I’m happy the Ijaw could put themselves together for an occasion like this. I look forward to a greater community of love, peace and development.
“It’s time to heal the wounds for the state to move forward. You have reasons to feel bad, but it’s also possible to carry out agitations through dialogue and non-violent manner. It’s time to embrace peace; forgive those who need to be forgiven. We need to partner others to move forward. I’ve come to plead with you to embrace peace. It’s time to think back and reconcile.”
However, in his welcome address, the spokesman for Gbaramatu Kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, lamented the unnecessary and incessant invasion of Gbaramtu communities by military operatives urging the Federal Government to accord the monarch the needed respect.
Gbenekama said, “Countless men, women, and children have lost their lives to these invasions. As chief security officer of the state, we plead with you to help reduce the presence of the military and stop the raids forthwith. We don’t deserve to die because oil was found in our land.”

Nigerian Navy plans fresh strategies to counter militancy

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The Nigerian Navy has formulated fresh strategies to flush out militants from the Niger Delta region and end ongoing attacks on oil installations.

It was gathered that the strategies when fully implemented would enable the navy through their formations in the region to gather intelligence on planned attacks and stop their execution.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral, Ibok-Ete Ibas, and his team of senior officers were in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Monday, to tour formations of the Central Naval Command (CNC) in preparation to roll out the new order.

Ibas in company with the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC), CNC, Rear Admiral Mohammed Garba and unit commanders of CNC assessed military hardwares and the readiness of the command to tackle security challenges in its Areas of Responsibility (AoR).

Ibas spent time to evaluate equipment at the Nigerian Naval Ship (NNS) SOROH; naval gunboats at the Government House jetty and later received briefs on challenges facing the CNC.

He further went to the Brass Island where he was conducted round the naval installations at a major command base of the CNC, the Forward Operational Base, FORMOSO.

Ibas, who paid a courtesy visit to the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, said the tour was aimed at getting all the formations in the region ready to professionally and effectively key into the strategies of riding the region of criminally and militancy.

As part of the fresh strategies he said the navy identified all the flash points in the region and was creating mobile stations to stop illegal activities of criminals and militants.

He said more areas had been identified along the waterways for the establishment of checkpoints and naval security posts.

He said: “The Navy came into the state about five years ago. I am also aware that the presence of the Navy has changed the maritime security landscape of the state and indeed the Niger Delta area in fighting maritime crime which is of concern to all well-meaning Nigerians.

“I want to assure you that the Nigerian Navy together with our sister security agencies will do all within our powers to ensure that we create an enabling environment that will allow for legitimate use of maritime space.

“I wish to use this forum to commend the state for its logistics support to the Navy. We have expanded our bases and units now to create mobile stations which enable us to be closer to the people and to tackle maritime crimes. We are also in the process of creating additional checkpoints to cover flash points in the region.”

Ibas said he was able to appraise and evaluate the security architecture on ground adding that the Navy had enhanced its operational capacity by acquiring more gunboats that had been allocated to various units.

He also said that the Navy had been able to put in place, infrastructure to support its operations in various bases and units.

He said the navy conducted training both locally and abroad to prepare the personnel to be able to man the various equipment in place.

He said: “We are hoping that when we put all these together, the Navy is going to be more proactive in delivery of services and with the various exercises we are conducting, we will be able to rid Bayelsa State and the maritime environment of the criminal elements in the region”.

He commended Dickson, who was represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) for his support to the CNC and congratulated him on his electoral victory at the Supreme Court.

He disclosed that the governor provided 100 hectares of land for the navy to build a permanent site for NNS SOROH.

Ibas further said the navy was planning to establish its welfare school in the state to contribute to learning and strengthen military-civilian relationship in the state.

But the naval chief appealed to the governor and other governors in the region to play their roles in ensuring peace in the Niger Delta region.

Addressing the governor, he said: “The responsibility lies on those of you in government and security agencies.

“While we commend you for your support, we are also asking you to appeal to Bayelsans to maintain the peace. Tell your people that development cannot come without security”.

Responding, Dickson said his government was always determined to rid the state of criminal elements.

He said his government was anchored on zero tolerance for crime and criminality.

He said: “For Bayelsa State to be secured, the waterways must be secured. That does not mean that we will leave the land. We know that people go to river to harvest for land use.

“But the area of harvest is where the contest is now and the national establishment that has the responsibility, resources and training to do that for the country is the Navy.

“So, the Nigerian Navy needs the encouragement from all of us to ensure that the riverside areas and maritime environment are safe.

“If we continue to collaborate more with sister security services, consistent with availability of logistics to carry out operations, we are going to have a very peaceful Christmas. Again, even after Christmas, we are going to sustain operations.”

He appealed to the Naval authorities to create more of those mobile stations in the state, insisting that Bayelsa is “more riverine than Rivers State and more delta than Delta State”.

Dickson said that his belief was hinged on the fact that if the security agencies and the relevant authorities continued in the same spirit, the state and the region would be rid of criminals.

FG To Establish Specialised Petroleum Force To Tackle Militancy

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As part of its 2017 target to ensure zero militancy and drastic reduction of violence in the Niger Delta, which affect Nigeria’s oil production, the federal government has indicated that it would set up a specialised petroleum force, comprising coastal patrol teams, Niger Delta subsidiary police, and other paramilitary set-ups.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, disclosed this shortly after President Muhammadu Buhari launched his government’s policy document for the country’s oil and gas sector – the seven big wins in Abuja.

Kachikwu, who spoke during the post-event press briefing noted that the specialised force would complement whatever efforts and mechanisms oil companies would put in place to secure their production assets and activities.

Besides, he gave reasons why the planned co-location of new refineries alongside existing ones in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri was taking long to be concluded as well as the delay in having a Final Investment Decision (FID) on Train-7 expansion project of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG).

The minister had initially stated that under a new security arrangement, the government planned to pull out the country’s military from the Niger Delta region and allow oil companies set up their own security processes to safeguard their production.

He also stated that the specialised force would be amphibious in character and equipped to support the security efforts of the oil companies.
According to him, some participants in the current Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants would be incorporated into the force as the government looks to close down the programme in 2017.

“All over the world, oil companies take care of their facilities. The presidency has also agreed to look at the possibility of setting up a specialised petroleum force that is going to draw on the elites of the security services, and be provided with resources that are amphibious, that are technology-driven to enable them to be able to respond to the request of the oil companies if they get overwhelmed outside their first line security,” Kachikwu said.

He further stated that, “The government is looking critically at the amnesty programme and we are looking towards an eventual wind up of the programme in about one year period.

“The whole idea is within that time frame we need to address some issues. We are going to be looking at things like coastal patrols, Niger Delta subsidiary policing and some paramilitary type organisations not armed. You will be able to suck in some of those people who were trained.

“We are also going to provide funding for those who want to set up their own businesses within the corridors of those areas.”
Speaking on the delayed Final Investment Decision (FID) on NLNG Train-7 project, the Kachikwu explained: “Bonny Train-7 is an issue of money. The prices of gas today is low, so anybody who is going to put money into gas development today needs to have very really strong fiscals.”

He noted the government was still committed to the project, saying, “That is not looking very encouraging, but the nice thing is that the NLNG has done very well and has access to be able to get facilities. So, we are going to be working with them on Train-7, as Train-7 is what we have commitment to.

Read More: thisdaylive

Avoid escalation of Niger Delta militancy – NASS tells Buhari

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The two chambers of the National Assembly have told President Muhammadu Buhari to engage in meaningful and inclusive dialogue with the aggrieved Niger Delta militants to avoid an escalation of the militancy in the region.

The House, in a motion by the Deputy House Leader, Buba Jibrin, concurred with the resolution of the Senate the government to ensure the protection of the nation’s oil and gas assets to facilitate increase in oil production and boost revenue therefrom.

The House, in the motion, also adopted the 25 point resolutions of the Senate Adhoc Committee on the ‘state of economy’ on September 27, 2016.

The House in concurring with Senate resolutions said: “Government must engage in meaningful and inclusive dialogue with the aggrieved Niger Delta militants to avoid an escalation of the unrest in the region and ensure protection of our nation’s oil and gas assets to facilitate increase in oil production and boost revenue therefrom.

“To this end, we advise Mr. President to, as a matter of urgency, raise a team that should coordinate the government’s engagement with all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region and the team should include the elected representatives from the zone.”

According to the resolutions, the National Assembly urged the fiscal and monetary authorities to meet a view to “harmonising all policies that lower interest rates for genuine investors in the real sector as well as medium and small scale farmers and processors.

“In order to shore up our foreign reserves, government should explore every avenue to restore the oil production target of 2.2 million barrels per day. Peaceful means should be immediately crafted and adopted to stop the vandalisation of petroleum and gas assets in the Niger Delta region.

“In order to avoid flooding the market with excess liquidity, release of low interest funding under the stimulus package (Special Intervention Funds) should be calibrated, targeted and monitored in favour of specific industries and projects that add immediate value to the economy by way of job creation, cost reduction and import substitution.”