Lagos - Nigeria was on Tuesday warned that violence could resume in the oil-producing south, exacerbating pressure on already stretched resources by Boko Haram in the north, and reduced crude revenues.

The International Crisis Group said the root causes of the insurgency in the strategic Niger Delta remained "largely unaddressed" and action was required to maintain the fragile peace.

"Violence in the Niger Delta may soon increase unless the Nigerian government acts quickly and decisively to address long-simmering grievances," it said in a new report.

Central to the uncertainty in the region is the government's $500m-a-year amnesty programme for former militants who attacked oil and gas industry infrastructure in the creeks in the 2000s.

At the peak of the trouble in 2009, some 1 000 people were killed every year, while the targeting of pipelines and facilities, including kidnappings of expatriate workers, saw crude production halved.

The programme, which provides monthly stipends and training to tens of thousands of former rebels, has been running for six years and ends in December but there have been calls for it to continue.

Durable peace

There were repeated warnings before presidential elections in March about a resumption of violence if Muhammadu Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan, who hails from oil-producing Bayelsa state.

With Buhari now in power, the ICG recommended that he "needs to act firmly but carefully to wind down the amnesty programme gradually" alongside new development and environmental schemes.

Building a "durable peace" should be a government priority, the group said.

Chronic poverty and "catastrophic" oil pollution in the Delta region both fuelled the insurgency and problems remain with poor infrastructure and equitable oil revenue-sharing.

The ICG assessed that government agencies set up to develop the south had "floundered" while efforts to manage oil spills had been "largely ineffective", it added.

"The conditions that sparked the insurgency could easily trigger a new phase of violent conflict," said the report, "Curbing Violence in Nigeria (III): Revisiting the Niger Delta".

Buhari, who has made tackling the rot in the oil sector a priority, has withdrawn pipeline protection contracts from former militants and ethnic Yoruba militia.

The threat to vested interests, local political tensions and the perception of a plot by northern Muslim Buhari to rob the largely Christian south of oil revenue could trigger unrest.

"With many guns in unauthorised hands, politically motivated assassinations and kidnappings for ransom, already common, could increase," the ICG said.

It added: "A resurgence of violence and increased oil-related crime in the Delta could seriously undermine national security and economic stability, which is already weighed down by the Boko Haram insurgency and dwindling oil revenues."


http://m.news24.com/news24/Africa/News/Nigeria-warned-about-fresh-violence-in-oil-rich-south-20150929-2

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Ok....

what a nonsense!... it is very obvious that some do not have conscience and most especially do not want to see the end of this administration but not to worry, the land to bury you is there so RIP in advance

jmichlins:
what a nonsense!... it is very obvious that some do not have conscience and most especially do not want to see the end of this administration but not to worry, the land to bury you is there so RIP in advance

Is that what you could figure out from the story.

Oh now the issues were not addressed because you don't get contracts again to guard nothing bah ,bloody hypocrites please spring up again and let's settle scores immediately

We are in for it. Just buckle your belts, it's gonna be a rough ride. Wish they just blow up all oil pipe lines for Nigeria to face reality and really define where we belong

Anything to destroy the jungle. ..

QuotaSystem:


Since you can't lead it?

all they know is to syphon the region and leave them with nothing. Whatever to pull the jungle down

the real exploitation of that region has begun.. now various states are taking loans any how to be paid from what proceeds, very soon the north east would get a loan from world bank to build the region destroyed by them. Nigerians need to fight for real federalism, where states control their respective resources.

Which way naija

Bloooy lazy Ijaw people!!!! Na to siddon chop money, without working, una dey do!!!!

The dullard has order quickly order that tompolo contract be left for him, hahahaha so he is afraid

Buhari have put nija for reverse with his stubborn nature

Gozzzy:
Bloooy lazy Ijaw people!!!! Na to siddon chop money, without working, una dey do!!!!

As other regions dey Sidon chop their oil money abi Think well...

QuotaSystem:


Who are the 'they' that left the region with nothing?

Their son that was President for 6 years and did NOTHING including abandoning the UNEP report to clean their land, or their new President that ordered their land to be cleaned up from spills after 1 month of assuming office.

I'm waiting.

That was just a political talk! since the so called speech by PMB nothing has been done yet....

Orjioorji:
The dullard has order quickly order that tompolo contract be left for him, hahahaha so he is afraid

That's not the case really the region that owns the oil has benefited the least by their God given resources... He cannot be talking of Tompolos contract when a vast number of oil blocs is still in the will of some northern brothers......will be an insane thing to do by PMB, is like some coming from another place to collect matching ground money (Owo Onile) from your own village.

[quote author=Chiaka post=38530022]

That's not the case really the region that owns the oil has benefited the least by their God given resources... He cannot be talking of Tompolos contract when a vast number of oil blocs is still in the will of some northern brothers......will be an insane thing to do by PMB, is like some coming from another place to collect matching ground money (Owo Onile) from your own village.

For once i support Broda Tompolo on his right to protect his contract duly awarded to him.
Part of the reason international and local investors avoid Nigeria investment has always being that when a New Government comes in, they all the time, cancel investment portfolio contract awarded by the previous Administration. Definitely President Buhari will leave office, and the new government will end up cancelling contract it awarded. If we must get it right, we must stop tampering with signed agreement.

Gozzzy:
Bloooy lazy Ijaw people!!!! Na to siddon chop money, without working, una dey do!!!!

your father na bastard your mother too na bastard.