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PressRoom
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The continued crisis in the Niger Delta fuelled by the activities of the ‘Niger Delta Avengers’, among other groups is cause for concern. The relentless blow ups of the country’s oil infrastructure have slashed its crude output. Experts say attacks by the new militant group has shut down nearly 50 percent of output and production is down to 1.1 million barrels per day. Nigeria's President, Mohammadu Buhari seems trapped in all these attacks, as there has not been a way out of this ugly situation. Below is list of what President Buhari-led government should do to permanently end crisis in the region.
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1. Investigate and Punish Oil Companies Over Oil Pollution: President Muhammadu Buhari should implement the ECOWAS Court judgement which ordered the Nigerian government to punish oil companies over oil pollution and devastation in the region. The FG should stand up to powerful oil companies that have continued to abuse the human rights of the people of the Niger Delta with impunity for decades if it is to satisfactorily resolve the crisis in the region. The government should also investigate the role that oil companies and others have played and continue to play in the environmental pollution in the region, and widely publish the outcome of any such investigation.
2. Imposition Of Fines on Oil Companies: The government should impose fines on oil companies for breach of regulations over the past 10 years and take measures to punish the companies. Oil spills pollute water, destroy aquatic life and soil fertility with resultant adverse effect on the health and means of livelihood of people in its vicinity. The government has failed in recent years to take any single action to punish perpetrators of oil pollution. It is incumbent upon the Federal Republic of Nigeria to prevent or tackle the situation by holding accountable those who caused the situation (with the clear expectation of impunity) and to ensure that adequate reparation is provided for the victims.
3. Implementation of Ogoni Clean-up: Following the launch of Ogoni clean-up exercise, President Buhari should start its implementation as soon as possible. Buhari must ensure that the general clean-up of the entire region should begin. This is justice for the people of Niger Delta. the implementation of UNEP report must also include timelines which must define progress.
4. President Buhari should adopt a sustainable long-term approach of peace-building and conflict transformation in the Niger Delta that does not merely focus on reducing the symptoms of social restiveness.
5. President Buhari should review the strategy of invasion by the military and paramilitary agencies currently going on in most Niger Delta communities in order not to further escalate the conflict.
6. There is an urgent need for multi-governmental security collaboration among the Federal, States and local governments, as well as the communities in the Niger Delta region for the adoption and implementation of a more efficient and effective security blueprint in the region.
7. Excessive Use of Force Should Stop: Even though he is a ex-military commander, President Buhari should tone down the narrative of show of force and explore alternative ways of dealing with the conflict.
8. Maritime University Should Take Off: President Buhari should ensure legal and financial support for the take-off of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, desired by the vast majority of persons in the region.
9. Visit & Meet With Them: President Buhari should take a bold step to visit the Deltan region, and hold a town meeting with different communities in the region to identify their pressing needs and map out a 3-year reform plans from responses.
10. Visible Infrastructural Development: President Buhari should embark on massive visible infrastructural development. Aid programmes should be developed for farmers, business people, students etc. It should be well-funded, not free, with good collateral request. However, such programme should not be in form of amnesty.
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1. Investigate and Punish Oil Companies Over Oil Pollution: President Muhammadu Buhari should implement the ECOWAS Court judgement which ordered the Nigerian government to punish oil companies over oil pollution and devastation in the region. The FG should stand up to powerful oil companies that have continued to abuse the human rights of the people of the Niger Delta with impunity for decades if it is to satisfactorily resolve the crisis in the region. The government should also investigate the role that oil companies and others have played and continue to play in the environmental pollution in the region, and widely publish the outcome of any such investigation.
2. Imposition Of Fines on Oil Companies: The government should impose fines on oil companies for breach of regulations over the past 10 years and take measures to punish the companies. Oil spills pollute water, destroy aquatic life and soil fertility with resultant adverse effect on the health and means of livelihood of people in its vicinity. The government has failed in recent years to take any single action to punish perpetrators of oil pollution. It is incumbent upon the Federal Republic of Nigeria to prevent or tackle the situation by holding accountable those who caused the situation (with the clear expectation of impunity) and to ensure that adequate reparation is provided for the victims.
3. Implementation of Ogoni Clean-up: Following the launch of Ogoni clean-up exercise, President Buhari should start its implementation as soon as possible. Buhari must ensure that the general clean-up of the entire region should begin. This is justice for the people of Niger Delta. the implementation of UNEP report must also include timelines which must define progress.
4. President Buhari should adopt a sustainable long-term approach of peace-building and conflict transformation in the Niger Delta that does not merely focus on reducing the symptoms of social restiveness.
5. President Buhari should review the strategy of invasion by the military and paramilitary agencies currently going on in most Niger Delta communities in order not to further escalate the conflict.
6. There is an urgent need for multi-governmental security collaboration among the Federal, States and local governments, as well as the communities in the Niger Delta region for the adoption and implementation of a more efficient and effective security blueprint in the region.
7. Excessive Use of Force Should Stop: Even though he is a ex-military commander, President Buhari should tone down the narrative of show of force and explore alternative ways of dealing with the conflict.
8. Maritime University Should Take Off: President Buhari should ensure legal and financial support for the take-off of the Maritime University in Okerenkoko, desired by the vast majority of persons in the region.
9. Visit & Meet With Them: President Buhari should take a bold step to visit the Deltan region, and hold a town meeting with different communities in the region to identify their pressing needs and map out a 3-year reform plans from responses.
10. Visible Infrastructural Development: President Buhari should embark on massive visible infrastructural development. Aid programmes should be developed for farmers, business people, students etc. It should be well-funded, not free, with good collateral request. However, such programme should not be in form of amnesty.